Reproduction apparatus, reproduction method, reproduction program, record medium, and data structure

ABSTRACT

A reproduction apparatus has a player section, a content reproduction section, an interface section. The player section has a read section reading data from the record medium on which the content data containing at least one of a video data stream and an audio data stream and a reproduction control program controlling the reproduction of the content data are recorded, an input section accepting an input from a user, and an output section outputting the reproduced content data. The content reproduction section reproduces the content data according to the reproduction control program. The interface section interfaces among the content reproduction section, the reproduction control program, and the player section. When a command representing an end of the reproduced content data is described in the reproduction control program, the reproduction control program supplies the command to the interface section and the interface section executes a process corresponding to the command.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2004-350192 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec.2, 2004, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reproduction apparatus that allowsthe reproduction control for programs recorded on a large capacityrecord medium to be easily performed and to a reproduction methodthereof, a reproduction program thereof, a record medium thereof, and adata structure thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

So far, an interactive function that displays a menu screen and sub menuscreens for various settings and buttons (button images) on the menuscreens for user's data inputs and that executes a selected function hasbeen accomplished for sell packages that are packages of which videodata and audio data such as a movie, a drama, a music concert, or thelike is recorded on a record medium such as a DVD.

Now, Compact Disc-Digital Audio (CD-DA) that is a typical example ofsuch cell packages will be described. One CD-DA generally contains aplurality of tracks of music data. Each track is assigned a number. Whena normal reproduction is performed, music data are successivelyreproduced in the ascending order of track numbers. After music datawith the largest track number have been reproduced, the reproduction isstopped.

In addition to the normal reproduction operation, which reproduces musicdata in the order of track numbers, many CD player models have otherreproduction functions such as a random reproduction, a shufflereproduction, and a disc repeat reproduction that reproduce music datain the order of other than track numbers. The random reproduction is afunction that randomly selects a track of music data from those recordedon a disc and reproduces the selected track of music data after thecompletion of the reproduction of a particular track of music data. Theshuffle reproduction is a function that reproduces music data recordedon the disc irrespective of the order of track numbers and stops thereproduction after the completion of the reproduction of all tracks ofmusic data recorded on the disc. In the normal reproduction, the discrepeat reproduction repeats the normal reproduction from the beginningtrack of music data after the completion of the reproduction of the lasttrack of music data. In the shuffle reproduction, the disc repeatreproduction changes the reproduction order of track numbers andreproduces the music data in the changed order.

In the CD-DA, the arrangement of music data is designated by only tracknumbers. Thus, it is clear that the beginning of a content is thebeginning of music data with track number #1 and the end of the contentis the end of music data with the largest track number.

On the other hand, there is a system that performs a reproductioncontrol for contents of video data and audio data recorded on a recordmedium according to commands or programs recorded thereon. For example,a plurality of contents such as a main part of a movie, a preview, amovie making scene, a menu, and so forth are recorded on a DVD-videodisc. When the contents are reproduced from the disc, theirreproductions are controlled according to the commands and programs.Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that performs a reproductioncontrol for contents according to such commands and programs.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open PublicationNo. 2004-304767

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in such a system, which performs a reproduction controlaccording to commands and programs, it was difficult for a player todetect an end of a content.

When an end credit portion of a movie is reproduced, it can be predictedthat the content comes to the end. However, actually, the end of the endcredit portion is not always the end of the content. For example, if aprogram that is executed upon the completion of the end credit portioncauses a menu screen to appear, it can be thought that a pair of a menuscreen and a main part of a movie is a content. Thus, it cannot bedetermined that the end of the main part of a movie be the end of thecontent. In addition, a reproduction control program may be thought ofas a part of a content.

Thus, if a content contains a reproduction control program, it is verydifficult to determine the end of the content. In other words, the “endof a content” depends on how the content creator recognizes the content.Thus, only the content creator knows the end of the content.

The DVD-video standard does not define a means that allows the contentside to inform the player side that a particular part of a content isthe “end of a content.” Thus, it is difficult for the DVD player thatreproduces data from a DVD-video disc to accomplish the player's uniquefunctions.

For example, the player may not have the repeat function thatrepetitively reproduces a content. Instead, the player may repetitivelyreproduce only a single title (one sequential program chain) to directlyand continuously reproduce a content from the beginning to the end.Thus, it was difficult to accomplish player's unique functions.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide areproduction apparatus that allows player's unique functions to beeasily accomplished when the reproduction control for contents isperformed according to a reproduction control program, a reproductionmethod thereof, a reproduction program thereof, a record medium thereof,and a data structure thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided areproduction apparatus that reproduces content data recorded on a recordmedium. The reproduction apparatus has a player section, a contentreproduction section, an interface section The player section has a readsection that reads data from the record medium on which the content datacontaining at least one of a video data stream and an audio data streamand a reproduction control program controlling the reproduction of thecontent data are recorded, an input section that accepts an input from auser, and an output section that outputs the content data that arereproduced. The content reproduction section reproduces the content dataaccording to the reproduction control program. The interface sectioninterfaces among the content reproduction section, the reproductioncontrol program, and the player section When a command that representsan end of the content data that are reproduced is described in thereproduction control program, the reproduction control program suppliesthe command to the interface section and the interface section executesa process corresponding to the command.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided areproduction method of reproducing content data from a record medium.The content data are reproduced from the record medium according to areproduction control program that is read from the record medium onwhich the content data containing at least one of a video data streamand an audio data stream and the reproduction control programcontrolling the reproduction of the content data are recorded. Thecontent reproduction step, the reproduction control program, and aplayer section having a read section that reads data from the recordmedium, an input section that accepts an input from a user, and anoutput section that outputs the content data that are reproduced areinterfaced. When a command that represents an end of the content datathat are reproduced is described in the reproduction control program,the reproduction control program supplies the command to the interfacestep and the interface step executes a process corresponding to thecommand.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided areproduction program that causes a computer device to execute areproduction method of reproducing content data from a record medium.The content data are reproduced from the record medium according to areproduction control program that is read from the record medium onwhich the content data containing at least one of a video data streamand an audio data stream and the reproduction control programcontrolling the reproduction of the content data are recorded. Thecontent reproduction step, the reproduction control program, and aplayer section having a read section that reads data from the recordmedium, an input section that accepts an input from a user, and anoutput section that outputs the content data that are reproduced areinterfaced. When a command that represents an end of the content datathat are reproduced is described in the reproduction control program,the reproduction control program supplies the command to the interfacestep and the interface step executes a process corresponding to thecommand.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided arecord medium from which data are readable by a computer device and onwhich a reproduction program is recorded, the reproduction programcausing the computer device to execute a reproduction method ofreproducing content data from a record medium. The content data arereproduced from the record medium according to a reproduction controlprogram that is read from the record medium on which the content datacontaining at least one of a video data stream and an audio data streamand the reproduction control program controlling the reproduction of thecontent data are recorded. The content reproduction step, thereproduction control program, and a player section having a read sectionthat reads data from the record medium, an input section that accepts aninput from a user, and an output section that outputs the content datathat are reproduced are interfaced. When a command that represents anend of the content data that are reproduced is described in thereproduction control program, the reproduction control program suppliesthe command to the interface step and the interface step executes aprocess corresponding to the command.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided arecord medium from which data are readable by a computer device and onwhich content data containing at least one of a video stream and anaudio stream and a reproduction control program controlling thereproduction of the content data are recorded. The reproduction controlprogram and the content data according to the reproduction controlprogram are reproduced. A player section having a read section thatreads data from the record medium, an input section that accepts aninput from a user, and an output section that outputs the content datathat are reproduced is interfaced. A command that represents an end ofthe reproduced content data is described to the interface step.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided asignal having a data structure of which content data containing at leastone of a video stream and an audio stream and a reproduction controlprogram controlling the reproduction of the content data aremultiplexed, that is transmissible and receivable through acommunication line, and that is processible by a computer device. Thecontent data are reproduced according to the reproduction controlprogram. A command that informs the computer device of an end of thecontent data is described in the content data, the command being read bythe computer device while the computer device is reproducing the contentdata.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reproductionapparatus has a player section, a content reproduction section, aninterface section. The player section has a read section configured toread data from the record medium on which the content data containing atleast one of a video data stream and an audio data stream and areproduction control program controlling the reproduction of the contentdata are recorded, an input section configured to accept an input from auser, and an output section configured to output the content data thatare reproduced. The content reproduction section reproduces the contentdata according to the reproduction control program. The interfacesection interfaces among the content reproduction section, thereproduction control program, and the player section. When a commandthat represents an end of the content data that are reproduced isdescribed in the reproduction control program, the reproduction controlprogram supplies the command to the interface section and the interfacesection executes a process corresponding to the command. Thus, althoughthe content data are reproduced according to the reproduction controlprogram, when the player section is informed of an end of the content,the player section can perform a unique reproduction operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the content dataare reproduced from the record medium according to a reproductioncontrol program that is read from the record medium on which the contentdata containing at least one of a video data stream and an audio datastream and the reproduction control program controlling the reproductionof the content data are recorded. The content reproduction step, thereproduction control program, and a player section having a read sectionconfigured to read data from the record medium, an input sectionconfigured to accept an input from a user, and an output sectionconfigured to output the content data that are reproduced areinterfaced. When a command that represents an end of the content datathat are reproduced is described in the reproduction control program,the reproduction control program supplies the command to the interfacestep and the interface step executes a process corresponding to thecommand. Thus, although the content data are reproduced according to thereproduction control program, when the player section is informed of anend of the content, the player section can perform a unique reproductionoperation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a reproductioncontrol program and content data according to the reproduction controlprogram are reproduced from a record medium from which data are readableby a computer device and on which the content data containing at leastone of a video stream and an audio stream and the reproduction controlprogram controlling the reproduction of the content data are recorded. Aplayer section having a read section configured to read data from therecord medium, an input section configured to accept an input from auser, and an output section configured to output the content data thatare reproduced is interfaced. A command that represents an end of thereproduced content data is described to the interface step. Thus,although the content data are reproduced according to the reproductioncontrol program, when the player section is informed of an end of thecontent, in the computer device that reproduces data from the recordmedium, the player section can perform a unique reproduction operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a datastructure, content data containing at least one of a video stream and anaudio stream and a reproduction control program controlling thereproduction of the content data are multiplexed. The data structure istransmissible and receivable through a communication line. The datastructure is processible by a computer device. The content data arereproduced according to the reproduction control program. A command thatinforms the computer device of an end of the content data is describedin the content data, the command being read by the computer device whilethe computer device is reproducing the content data. Thus, although thecontent data are reproduced according to the reproduction controlprogram, when the player section is informed of an end of the content,in the computer device that process data that has this data structure,the player section can perform a unique reproduction operation.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention,a script program that performs a reproduction control for a contentexplicitly informs the player of an end of the content. Since the playerreceives the information that represents the end of the content, theplayer can easily accomplish a unique reproduction control function thatis executed after the end of the content.

An operation of the player to be performed at an end of a content can bedesignated according to for example a setting of the player of whetherthe disc repeat function has been set and the state of the content ofwhether a menu screen is provided. Thus, an improper situation forexample appearance of a black screen, which results from lack of theconsideration for the user, can be prevented from taking place. Inaddition, a user-friendly interface can be provided.

When the content creator only describes method end at a portion that heor she wants to designate as an end of a content, the playerautomatically performs a proper process without need to provide acomplicated program. Thus, a lot of time and effort to create thecontent can be saved.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of layers accordingto the UMD Video Standard;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a player modelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internalstructure of a movie player;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram describing a play state and a stop stateof the movie player;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an event model of the movie playeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing examples of events that occurduring the reproduction of a play list;

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are lists of examples of properties that a movieplayer object has;

FIG. 8 is a list of examples of methods that the movie player objecthas;

FIG. 9 is a list of examples of user's key inputs;

FIG. 10 is a list of examples of user's key inputs;

FIG. 11 is a list of examples of control commands according to keyinputs;

FIG. 12 is a list of examples of events according to key inputs;

FIG. 13 is a list of examples of event handlers;

FIG. 14 is a list of examples of event handlers;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an example of a process that a providedprogram executes upon the occurrence of a user's input event;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram describing an example of a scriptprogram;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a script program;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a managementstructure for files according to the UMD Video Standard;

FIG. 19 is an example of syntax that represents the overall structure offile “PLAYLIST.DAT”;

FIG. 20 is an example of the internal structure of block PlayItem( );

FIG. 21 is an example of the internal structure of block PlayListMark();

FIG. 22 is a list describing field mark_type of block Mark( );

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram describing the designation of a mark timein a clip AV stream file;

FIG. 24 is a list of an example of syntax that represents the overallstructure of clip AV stream file “XXXXX.CLP”;

FIG. 25 is a list describing the correlation of elementary streams ofblock StreamInfo( );

FIG. 26 is a list of an example of the internal structure of blockStaticInfo( );

FIG. 27 is a list of an example of the internal structure of blockDynamicInfo( );

FIG. 28 is a list of an example of the internal structure of blockEP_map( );

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a discreproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 30 is a functional block diagram describing an operation of thedisc reproduction apparatus in detail;

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the definitions of states of themovie player according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a list of combinations of the existing state and changedstate by methods for each of four states of the movie player;

FIG. 33A to FIG. 33E are schematic diagrams describing examples of statechanges of the movie player upon the execution of method play( );

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram describing a reproduction method of aplay item;

FIG. 35 is a list of examples of operations of the movie player when aplay list that the movie player reproduces comes to the beginning orend;

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram describing the reproduction between playlists;

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing a process in a script layer at the endof a play list and an example of an operation of the movie player;

FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram describing three types of memory areasthat the UMD video player has;

FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram describing backups of player states;

FIG. 40 is a list of backups of player states;

FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram describing restoration and discard ofresume information;

FIG. 42 is a list describing restoration and discard of resumeinformation;

FIG. 43 is a list describing restoration and discard of resumeinformation;

FIG. 44 is a list describing restoration and discard of resumeinformation;

FIG. 45 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation of the UMDvideo player using argument resumeInfoClearFlag of method stop( );

FIG. 46 is a list of an example of the life cycle of player states;

FIG. 47 is a list of an example of the life cycle of resume information;

FIG. 48 is a list of an example of the life cycle of user data;

FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram describing that a content may contain aplurality of ends;

FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram showing sections that execute method end() of the player model shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram showing an example of specifications ofmethod end( );

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing an example of a process that performs adisc repeat function with method end( ); and

FIG. 53 is a flow chart showing an example of a process that executes aplayer's unique function at an end of a content with method end( ).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in thefollowing order.

-   1. UMD Video Standard-   2. Player mode according to UMD Video Standard-   3. Event model of movie player-   4. Movie player object-   5. Example of script program-   6. File management structure-   7. Display reproduction apparatus-   8. State change model of movie player-   8-1. Definitions of states of movie player-   8-2. Methods that cause movie player to change states-   8-3. Operation of movie player during reproduction of play list-   8-4. Reproduction resume function of movie player-   8-5. Life cycles of individual data-   9. Process at end of content    1. UMD Video Standard

For easy understanding, a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. According to this embodiment of thepresent invention, a player model is described in a scrip languagereferred to as the ECMA script. The ECMA script is a cross platformscript language based on JavaScript (registered trademark of SunMicrosystems, Inc.) defined by the European Computer ManufacturersAssociation (ECMA). The ECMA script has high compatibility with HTMLdocuments and can define original objects. Thus, the ECMA script issuitable for a player model of this embodiment of the present invention.

In other words, the DVD Video of the related art usesnon-general-purpose commands defined in the DVD Video standard todescribe a control program that accomplishes interactive functions. Acontrol program is dispersedly embedded in a plurality of files, atplurality of positions of a data file, or in an AV file. The conditionsand order in which an embedded control program is executed are definedin the DVD standard.

In the DVD Video system, it is difficult to structures a general-purposecontent creation system. Thus, contents are created using a templatewith which a story is created according to a prepared scenario. Whencomplicated contents are created, it is necessary to use a custom-madecontent creation system instead of a template. According to thisembodiment of the present invention, to solve such a problem, the ECMAscript, which is a general-purpose and extensible script language, isused to control AV contents.

In the following description, the standard of this embodiment of thepresent invention is referred to as the Universal Media Disc VideoStandard (UMD is a registered trademark of Sony Computer EntertainmentInc.). The script portion of the UMD Video Standard is referred to asthe UMD Video Script Standard.

Next, the UMD Video Standard will be described in brief. FIG. 1 showsthe structure of layers of the UMD Video Standard. The UMD VideoStandard defines three layers—a script layer, a play list layer, and aclip layer. According to this structure, a stream is managed.

The UMD Video Standard deals with MPEG2 packetized elementary streams ofvideo data, audio data, and subtitle data that have been digitallyencoded as an MPEG2 stream of which they are multiplexed. The MPEG2stream of which elementary streams of video data, audio data, andsubtitle data are multiplexed is referred to as a clip AV stream. Theclip AV stream is contained in a clip AV stream file. When a clip AVstream file is recorded, a clip information file is correspondinglycreated in the relationship of one to one. A set of a clip informationfile and a clip AV file that corresponds to the clip information file isreferred to as a clip.

A clip is a unit of data that are recorded at a time on a disc. Thereproduction order of clips is managed in the play list layer that is anupper layer of the clip layer. The play list layer is a layer thatdesignates the reproduction path of clips. The play list layer containsat least one play list (PlayList). A play list is a group of play items(PlayItems). A play item contains one pair of an in point and an outpoint that represent the reproduction range of a clip. With a pluralityof play items, clips can be reproduced in any order. Play items candesignate the same clip. An in point and an out point of a clip AVstream file are designated by time stamps (clip internal times). Thetime stamps are converted into byte positions of a clip AV stream withinformation of a clip information file.

A play list is just a structure in which play items that represent allor part of clips are reproduced in a designated order. With only a playlist, it is difficult to accomplish a branch of the reproduction ofclips and interactivity to the user. According to this embodiment of thepresent invention, a plurality of play lists are contained together inone file “PLAYLIST.DAT.”

The script layer is described in a UMD video script of which a languagespecification ECMA script is extended. The UMD video script is a scriptof which the ECMA script is extended to accomplish original functionsfor the UMD Video.

The script layer is an upper layer of the play list layer. The scriptlayer is composed of a sequence of commands that cause the player toreproduce a play list and that sets the player. With commands in thescript layer, a play list reproduction can be accomplished in such amanner that one of streams according to a plurality of languages isselected or play items are reproduced according to a play list selectedaccording to a predetermined condition. An example of an applicationthat uses the play list reproduction that has such a conditional branchis a multi story. The script layer accomplishes an interactive functionto the user.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the script layeris composed of a file referred to as a resource file. The resource filecontains script data (script program) described according to the realECMA scrip, sound data for sound effects for button operations, a screendesign composed of image data for a background image of a menu screen,and image data (bit map data) with which GUI parts such as button imagesare displayed.

There may be a plurality of resource files. According to this embodimentof the present invention, resource files are assigned file namesaccording to a predetermined naming rule. For example, extension “RCO”of the file name represents that the file is a resource file.

2. Player Model According to UMD Video Standard

Next, a model of a reproduction apparatus (player) that reproduces dataaccording to the UMD Video Standard (this mode is referred to as theplayer model) will be described. The player reads a resource file, aplay list file, and a clip information file from a disc. Thereafter, theplayer reads clip AV stream files from the disc in the reproductionorder defined in the resource file, the play list file, and the clipinformation file and reproduce video data, audio data, subtitle data,and so forth from the clip AV stream files.

According to the language specification of a script program, afunctional block that reproduces a play list is implemented as an objectof the script program. In the UMD Video Standard, an object thatreproduces a play list is referred to as the movie player object.Commands that cause the player to reproduce a play list and set theplayer are methods that the movie player object has. The movie playerobject is controlled by methods in the script layer. At this point, afunction that allows the movie player object to inform the script layerof a state change and a reproduction position is needed. This functioncorresponds to an operation of which the movie player object issues anevent to a script program. A process corresponding to the event isdescribed as an event handler.

When a model of which information is sent from the movie player objectto the script program with events and the script program controls themovie player object with objects is created, the script program cancontrol the reproduction of a clip AV stream.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the player model of thisembodiment of the present invention. A movie player 300 is a module thatreproduces video data, audio data, and subtitle data according to theUMD Video Standard. The above-described movie player object is an objectcontained in a script program that operates movie objects. In otherwords, a movie player object is an abstracted implementation module thataccomplishes the functions of the movie player and that is handled by ascript program.

In addition, since the movie player 300 and the movie player object arethought to be substantially the same, they will be described with thesame reference numeral.

In FIG. 2, the movie player 300 reads a clip AV stream file with amethod received from a lower layer (native implementation platform 301shown in FIG. 2) according to a user's input 310 and with a methodreceived from an upper layer (script layer) according to a database ofplay lists and clip information and decodes and displays the clip AVstream.

The inside of the movie player object 300 depends on the implementationof the UMD video player that reproduces the UMD Video. The script layer302 provides the movie player object 300 with an application programminginterface (API) that uses methods and properties as black-boxed objects.In this example, the UMD video player represents a real device thatimplements a movie player. All UMD video players implement a movieplayer according to the UMD Video Standard and have reproductioncompatibility therewith.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movie player object 300 has three input/outputpaths that are a path that accepts a control command 311 from the nativeimplementation platform 301, a path that informs the script layer 302 ofan event 312, and a path that accepts the method 313 from the scriptlayer 302.

The control command 311 is a command that controls the operation of themovie player 300 and that is received from the native implementationplatform 301. The native implementation platform 301 is an interfacebetween a device unique portion of the UMD video player as a real deviceand the movie player 300. The event 312 is a script event that is sentfrom the movie player 300 to the script layer 302. The method 313 is amethod with which a script program of the script layer 302 issues acommand to the movie player 300.

The movie player object 300 contains a database 320 of play lists andclip information according to the UMD Video Standard. The movie player300 invalidates (masks) the user's input 310 and converts a reproductionposition designated with time into a byte position of the clip AV streamaccording to the database 320.

A playback module 321 in the movie player object 300 decodes the clip AVstream, which is an MPEG2 program stream (PS) of which video data, audiodata, and subtitle data are multiplexed. The playback module 321 has twostates that are a play state and a stop state and changes one state tothe other state with a control command and a method (see FIG. 3). Itshould be noted that a clip AV stream is not limited to an MPEG2 PS. Forexample, the model can treat an MPEG2 transport stream (TS) to be thesame as an MPEG2 PS

The script layer 302 is a layer that executes a script program accordingto the UMD Video Standard, controls the movie player object 300, anddisplays a screen. The script layer 302 accomplishes a scenario that thecontent creator side intends to create. The script layer 302 issues themethod 313 to the movie player object 300 and receives the event 312therefrom. The script layer 302 exchanges a key event 314 correspondingto the users input 310 and the method 315 that causes the nativeimplementation platform 301 to display a screen with the nativeimplementation platform 301.

The native implementation platform 301 also has various functions thatare not defined in the UMD Video Standard. According to this embodimentof the present invention, there is the method 315 with which the scriptlayer 302 issues a command to the native implementation platform 301, anobject of which a function is abstracted is defined in the nativeimplementation platform 301. The script program considers the method 315to be included in the object. This is because a method is included in anobject. Thus, a controller object 330 is defined in the nativeimplementation platform 301. The method 315 is defined to be a method ofthe controller object 330.

For example, buttons on a menu screen are displayed by the nativeimplementation platform 301 with the method 315 supplied from the scriptprogram of the script layer 302 to the native implementation platform301. When the user selects or decides one of the buttons, the nativeimplementation platform 301 informs the script layer 302 of the keyevent 314 corresponding to the user's input 310. The script program inthe script layer 302 performs a process for the key event 314corresponding to the user's input 310.

The roles of the movie player 300 and the script layer 302 aredesignated so that while the movie player 300 decodes video data, audiodata, and subtitle data and controls the display of the decoded data,the script layer 302 places and displays part images (hereinafterreferred to as GUI parts) that compose the graphical user interface(GUI) such as buttons and processes corresponding to selection anddecision of GUI parts.

The native implementation platform 301 is a platform for which the movieplayer object 300 and the script program operate. When the real UMDvideo player is a hardware device, the UMD video player implements thenative implementation platform 301 to mediate processes between thehardware and the movie player 300.

For example, the native implementation platform 301 accepts the user'sinput 310 from the user and determines whether the accepted user's input310 is a command for the movie player object 300 or a command for adisplayed button in the script layer 302. When the determined resultrepresents that the user's input 310 is a command for the movie player300, the native implementation platform 301 converts the user's input310 into the control command 311 that is an internal control command forthe movie player 300 and issues the control command to the movie player300.

On the other hand, when the determined result represents that the user'sinput 310 is a command for a displayed GUI part in the script layer 302,the native implementation platform 301 informs the script layer 302 ofthe key event 314 corresponding to the user's input 310. The nativeimplementation platform 301 can display a button image on the screenwith the method 315 issued from the script layer 302 according to theuser's input 310. In other words, the native implementation platform 301and the script layer 302 can directly exchange an event and a method notthrough the movie player 300.

In addition, the native implementation platform 301 can access theproperties of the movie player 300 and check the state of the movieplayer 300.

Next, the movie player 300 will be described in details. FIG. 3 shows anexample of the internal structure of the movie player 300. As describedabove, the movie player 300 is composed of the database 320 and theplayback module 321. The database 320 is an area that stores informationof a play list read from the disc and information of clips, namely clipinformation.

The playback module 321 is composed of a decoder engine 322 and aproperty 323. The property 323 is a value that represents the state ofthe playback module 321. The property 323 has two types of properties323A (read-only parameters) whose values depend on the initial settingof the movie player 300 like a language code and a property 323B (playerstate) whose value varies depending on the state of the playback module321.

The values of the properties 323A, whose values depend on the initialsetting, are set by a native system for example a real device. Thus, thevalues of the properties 323A are not changed by a play list, clipinformation, and a script program. The values of the properties 323A canbe read only from a script program. In contrast, the value of theproperty 323B, which represents the state of the playback module 321,can be read from a script program. In addition, the value of theproperty 323B can be written from a particular script program.

In this operation model, it is assumed that a play list and clipinformation are pre-loaded from the disc before a clip AV stream isreproduced. Instead, the operations of the movie player model may beaccomplished in another implementation.

The movie player object 300 reproduces a play list designated by thescript layer 302 or the native implementation platform 301. For example,the movie player 300 references the database 320 and obtains thereproduction position of the clip AV stream as the byte position of thefile according to the designated play list. In the playback module 321,the decoder engine 322 controls the decoding of the clip AV streamaccording to the information of the reproduction position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the movie player 300 has two states that are a playstate and a stop state depending on the reproduction state of a playlist. The play state represents that a play list is designated and it isbeing reproduced. The play state includes a normal reproduction,variable speed reproductions such as a double speed reproduction and a½-speed reproduction, a fast forward, a fast reverse, and a pause. Aso-called step reproduction, of which each frame is forward reproducedand reverse reproduced, is a state of which the pause state and the playstate are repeated. The stop state represents that a play list is notbeing reproduced. In the stop state, a play list is not selected and thevalue of the player state that represents “currently reproduced playlist number” is indefinite.

The state of the movie player 300 depends on the state change betweenthe play state and the stop state of the decoder engine 322 of the movieplayer 300. The value of the property 323B is updated according to thestate change of the decoder engine 322.

Resume information 324 stores the state that exits immediately beforethe stop state occurs. After the movie player 300 decodes a play list,when the movie player 300 is in the play state, if the state of themovie player 300 is changed to the stop state, the resume information324 stores the state that exists immediately before the stop stateoccurs. In addition, the resume information 324 can be stored in anonvolatile memory of the player as hardware for each title of the disc.The disc has unique identification information (referred to as a titleID) for each title. The resume information 324 and the identificationinformation are correlatively stored. Thus, when the state of the dischaving the title according to the identification information is changedfrom the stop state to the play state, data can be reproduced from theposition at which the stop state occurred according to the resumeinformation 324.

3. Event Model of Movie Player

Next, an event model of the movie player 300 will be described. In theplay state that the movie player 300 reproduces a play list, the movieplayer 300 generates various events. The events execute process programsthat are described as scripts and referred to as event handlers. Theevent handlers are methods called upon the occurrence of events. Aprogram execution model that starts executing a process program upon theoccurrence of an event is referred to as an event driven model. In theevent driven model, an irregular event occurs. When the event occurs, apredetermined program is executed. According to this embodiment of thepresent invention, a script program controls the operations of the movieplayer object 300 with an event handler group.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an event model of the movie player 300 ofthis embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, event handlersonEventA( ), onEventB( ), and onEventC( ) are interfaces. The contentsof the event handlers are described as scripts. The contents of theevent handlers are created and implemented by for example the contentcreator side. In the UMD Video Scrip Standard, an event handler isprovided for each event of which the movie player object 300 informs thescript program. In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is decided that aprocess program executed upon the occurrence of event A is event handleronEventA( ). This applies to event B and event C. Thus, when event Boccurs, event handler onEventB( ) that corresponds thereto is executed.When event C occurs, event handler onEventC( ) that corresponds theretois executed.

Since the system side selects an event handler called upon theoccurrence of an event, the content creator side does not need todescribe a process that determines what event occurred in a scriptprogram.

FIG. 6 shows examples of events that occur while a play list is beingreproduced. Since chapter mark ChapterMark is described at the beginningof play list PlayList, when the play list is reproduced from thebeginning, event Chapter corresponding to the chapter mark occurs.Whenever the existing chapter is changed to another chapter, the scriptlayer 302 is informed of event Chapter and the corresponding eventhandler onChapter is executed. When reproduction time for event markEventMark elapses, a corresponding mark event occurs. At the end of theplay list, the movie player 300 pauses the reproduction of the play listand informs the script layer 302 of event PlayListEnd. The script layer302 side causes the movie player 300 to start reproducing another playlist with the corresponding event handler onPlayListEnd( ). In such amanner, the movie player 300 continues to reproduce a sequence of playlists in the order that the content creator side intended.

In such a manner, while the player is operating, various events occur.When an upper level program is informed of the occurrence of an event,the upper level program can know the state of the player. When the upperlevel program provides programs (event handlers) that are executedcorresponding to events of which it is informed, it can handle variousevents. Events and event handlers will be described later.

When the content creator side has not described an event handler, theupper level program executes an operation (default event handler) thatis built in the player and that is defined in the standard or ignoresthe event. When it is not necessary for a particular event to performany process, if an event handler according to the event is notdescribed, the event can be actively ignored.

As event models, there may be an event listener model, a single-methodmodel, and so forth. In the event listener model, an object registers alistener according to a predetermined event to a player object. When anevent that occurs in the player object is an event that has beenregistered, the player object transmits the event to the object that hasregistered the event. The object executes a method that corresponds tothe event. In the single-method model, one method is called whenever anevent occurs.

The event model of this embodiment of the present invention is simplerthan the event listener model that needs processes such as an eventregistration process and an event deletion process. The single-methodmodel needs to know what event occurred and describe in the method apreprocess that changes a process routine prepared for each event thatoccurs. Since the method is implemented by the content creator side,even if the model is simple, the load of the content creator sideincreases. In addition, whenever an event occurs, since one largeprocess program (method) is called, a large memory area will be used andthe execution speed will become slow. Thus, since the model of thisembodiment of the present invention provides process programs (eventhandlers) for individual events, it can be said that this model issuperior to the other models at these points.

4. Movie Player Object

Next, the external specifications of the movie player object 300 will bedescribed. Generally, an object defined according to the ECMA ScriptLanguage Specifications has properties and methods. Like this object, asshown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the movie player object 300 of thisembodiment of the present invention has properties and methods. When anexternal object designates the object name and the property name of atarget object, the external object can directly read and write thedesignated property of the target object. Instead, when method setXXX( )(where “XXX” represents the property name) that sets the property valueand method getXXX( ) that reads the property value are defined, themethods can read and write this property of the other object.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show lists of examples of properties that the movieplayer object 300 has. These properties correspond to the property 323shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7A shows examples of properties that belong to theread-only parameters 323A shown in FIG. 3. Property scriptVersionrepresents the version of the UMD video script. PropertyaudioChannelCapability represents the number of audio channels that theUMD video player can reproduce. Property languageCode represents thelanguage code of the menu display language that is set to the UMD videoplayer. Property audioLanguageCode represents the language code of theaudio language that is set to the UMD video player. PropertysubtitleLanguageCode represents the language code of the subtitlelanguage that is set to the UMD video player.

When a disc is loaded into the movie player 300, a scrip file that isread from the disc is decided according to the language code representedby property languageCode that is set in the read-only parameters 323A.If the disc loaded into the movie player 300 does not have a script fileaccording to the language, a default script file is read from the disc.For example, a file at the beginning of a plurality of script files isread as a default script file from the disc.

FIG. 7B shows examples of properties that belong to the player state323B shown in FIG. 3. Property playListNumber represents the play listnumber of a play list that is currently being reproduced. PropertychapterNumber represents the chapter number of a chapter that iscurrently being reproduced. Property videoNumber represents the videostream number of a video stream that is currently being reproduced.Property audioNumber represents the audio stream number of an audiostream that is currently being reproduced. Property subtitleNumberrepresents the subtitle stream number of a subtitle stream that iscurrently being reproduced. Property playListTime represents elapsedtime after the play list is reproduced when the beginning of the playlist is 0. Property audioFlag represents ON/OFF of the audioreproduction and dual monaural LR. Property subtitleFlag representsON/OFF of the subtitle display.

The dual monaural is a mode of which left and right (L, R) channels ofstereo audio are independently used as monaural audio channels.

When the movie player 300 is in the play state or the pause state, eachproperty that belongs to the player state 323B represents theseinformation. When the movie player 300 is changed to the stop state,each property that belongs to the player state 323B is backed up as theresume information 324. At this point, the contents of the player state323B may be cleared.

FIG. 8 shows a list of examples of methods that the movie player object300 has. The methods correspond to the method 313 shown in FIG. 2.Method play( ) reproduces video data. Method playChapter( ) designates achapter and reproduces video data of the designated chapter. Methodresume( ) starts reproducing video data with the resume information 324.Method stop( ) stops reproducing video data. Method pause( ) pauses thereproduction of video data. Method playStep( ) reproduces video dataframe by frame. Method changeStream( ) changes the existing stream of avideo stream, an audio stream, and/or a subtitle stream to anotherstream. Method getPlayerStatus( ) obtains the play state, the stopstate, the pause state, or the like of the movie player 300. MethodchangeResumeInfo( ) changes the contents of the resume information 324.Method reset( ) stops the reproduction of video data and clears thecontents of the resume information 324.

According to the UMD Video Standard, video data can be displayed at apart of the display screen. The following four methods are methods thatdisplay video data at a part of the display screen. Method setPos( )sets the display position of video data. Method getPos( ) obtains thedisplay position of video data. Method setSize( ) sets the display sizeof video data. Method getSize( ) obtains the display size of video data.

In reality, the movie player 300 and the native implementation platform301 are integrated. In other words, the movie player 300 UMD and thenative implementation platform 301 correspond to hardware as the UMDplayer that loads a disc and reproduces video data from the disc andsoftware that controls the UMD player. What portions are hardware andsoftware depend on the implemented structure. For example, when the UMDplayer is a personal computer or the like, the other portions except forthe disc dive are composed of software. When a single UMD player isused, besides the disc drive, for example a video decoder, an audiodecoder, and so forth may be composed of hardware. Thus, methods,commands, and events are not always explicitly exchanged between themovie player 300 and the native implementation platform 301 as shown inFIG. 2.

On the other hand, with respect to key inputs of the user, as shown inFIG. 2, the user's input 310 is received by the native implementationplatform 301 at the first. In other words, the native implementationplatform 301 receives a key input of the user as the user's input 310.The native implementation platform 301 determines whether the user'sinput 310 is a command to the movie player 300 or an event to a scriptprogram in the script layer 302. Depending on the determined result, thenative implementation platform 301 issues the control command 311 or thekey event 314 and informs the corresponding upper layer (movie player300 or the script layer 302) of the issued control command 311 or keyevent 314.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show examples of key inputs as the user's input 310.In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, keys with prefix “VM” are virtual keys.

FIG. 9 shows examples of key inputs with respect to the operations ofthe movie player 300. Key VK_PLAY provides a function corresponding to aplay key that starts the reproduction. Key VK_STOP provides a functioncorresponding to a stop key that stops the reproduction. Key VK_PAUSEprovides a function corresponding to a pause key that pauses thereproduction. Key VK_FAST_FORWARD provides a function corresponding to afast forward key that performs the fast forward reproduction.Key-VK_FAST_REVERSE provides a function corresponding to a fast reversekey that performs the fast reverse reproduction. Key VK_SLOW_FORWARDprovides a function corresponding to a slow (forward) key that performsthe forward slow reproduction. Key VK_SLOW_REVERSE provides a functioncorresponding to a slow (reverse) key that performs the reverse slowreproduction. Key VK_STEP_FORWARD provides a function corresponding to astep (forward) key that performs the forward step reproduction. KeyVK_STEP_REVERSE provides a function corresponding to a step (reverse)key that performs the reverse step reproduction.

Key VK_NEXT provides a function corresponding to a next designation keythat inputs a value that represents “next.” Key VK_PREVIOUS provides afunction corresponding to a previous designation key that inputs a valuethat represents “previous.” With key VK_NEXT and key VK_PREVIOUS, theuser can designate a jump to for example the next chapter and theprevious chapter, respectively.

Key VK_ANGLE provides a function corresponding to an angle change keythat designates an angle change for multi-angle video data. KeyVK_SUBTITLE provides a function corresponding to a subtitle change keythat designates English subtitle, Japanese subtitle, and subtitleON/OFF. Key VK_AUDIO provides a function corresponding to an audiochange key that designates an audio mode such as surround mode orbilingual mode. Key VK_VIDEO_ASPECT provides a function corresponding toan aspect change key that changes an aspect ratio of video data.

FIG. 10 shows examples of key inputs with respect to the menuoperations. Key VK_UP provides a function corresponding to an updirection designation key that inputs a value that represents “up.” KeyVK_DOWN provides a function corresponding to a down directiondesignation key that inputs a value that represents “down.” Key VK_RIGHTprovides a function corresponding to a right direction designation keythat inputs a value that represents “right.” Key VK_LEFT provides afunction corresponding to a left direction designation key that inputs avalue that represents “left.” Key VK_UP RIGHT provides a functioncorresponding to an upper right direction designation key that inputs avalue that represents “upper right.” Key VK_UP_LEFT provides a functioncorresponding to an upper left direction designation key that inputs avalue that represents “upper left.” Key VK_DOWN_RIGHT provides afunction corresponding to a lower right direction designation key thatinputs a value that represents “lower right.” Key VK_DOWN_LEFT providesa function corresponding to a lower left direction designation key thatinputs a value that represents “lower left.” With these direction keys,the user can cause for example the cursor to move on the display.

Key VK_MENU provides a function corresponding to a menu key thatdisplays a menu. Key VK_ENTER provides a function corresponding to anenter key that completes a command input or a data input. Key VK_RETURNprovides a function that returns the process by one step.

Key VK_COLORED_KEY_(—)1 provides a function corresponding to a coloredfunction key 1. Key VK_COLORED_KEY_(—)2 provides a functioncorresponding to a colored function key 2. Key VK_COLORED_KEY_(—)3provides a function corresponding to a colored function key 3. KeyVK_COLORED_KEY_(—)4 provides a function corresponding to a coloredfunction key 4. Key VK_COLORED_KEY_(—)5 provides a functioncorresponding to a colored function key 5. Key VK_COLORED_KEY_(—)6provides a function corresponding to a colored function key 6.

Since the functions of the key inputs shown in FIG. 9 are different intheir roles from those of the key inputs shown in FIG. 10, the nativeimplementation platform 301 needs to select destinations that areinformed of the key inputs. As described above, key inputs shown in FIG.9 designate the reproduction operations of video data, audio data, andsubtitle data. When the native implementation platform 301 receives oneof the key inputs shown in FIG. 9 as the user's input 310, the nativeimplementation platform 301 converts the received key input into acommand shown in FIG. 11 and informs the movie player 300 of theconverted command.

On the other hand, since the key inputs shown in FIG. 10 are the user'sinput 310 to the GUI, the script layer 302, which composes a screen andplaces buttons, needs to be informed of these inputs. When the nativeimplementation platform 301 receives a key input shown in FIG. 10 as theuser's input 310, the native implementation platform 301 converts thekey input into the event 314 shown in FIG. 2 and informs the scriptlayer 302 of the event 314. FIG. 12 shows examples of the events 314according to the key inputs.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 also show key inputs with respect to stream changessuch as key VK_ANGLE, key VK_SUBTITLE, and key VK_AUDIO. First, withthese keys, the user input 310 is informed of the user input 310. Themovie player 300 informs a script program of an event that representsthat the movie player 300 has issued a stream change request. The scriptprogram causes the movie player 300 to change the existing stream forexample an audio stream or a subtitle stream to another stream with astream change method. Thus, these keys are key inputs of which thenative implementation platform 301 needs to inform the movie player 300.

Next, commands shown in FIG. 11 will be described in detail. Commanduo_timeSearch(playListTime) starts reproduction from a designated timeof a play list that is being reproduced. Argument playListTimerepresents the time of the play list when the beginning of the play listis 0. Since this command does not designate a play list number, the timerepresented by argument playListTime is a designated time in the rangeof the play list that is being reproduced. Command uo_play( ) startsreproduction at normal reproduction speed. The start position is decidedaccording to the resume information 324. When there is no resumeinformation 324, this user's operation is invalidated. This commandcorresponds to the execution of method play( ) without the play listnumber. With this command, the user is incapable of designating a playlist number.

Command uo_playChapter(chapterNumber) starts reproduction from a chapterdesignated by argument chapterNumber in a play list that is beingreproduced. Without the chapter number, this command starts reproductionfrom the beginning of the chapter that is being reproduced. This commandcorresponds to method playChapter( ) without the chapter number. Commanduo_playPrevChapter( ) starts reproduction from the immediately precedingchapter. Command uo_playNextChapter( ) starts reproduction from theimmediately following chapter.

Command uo_jumpToEnd( ) jumps to the end of the play list. This commandcorresponds to a user's operation that'stops the reproduction andgenerates event playListEnd. With this command, the script layer 302executes event handler onPlayListEnd. Command uo_forwardScan(speed)starts forward reproduction at a reproduction speed designated byargument speed. Command uo_backwardScan(speed) starts backwardreproduction at a reproduction speed designated by argument speed.Argument speed of these commands uo_forwardScan(speed) anduo_backwardScan(speed) depends on the implementation of the UMD videoplayer.

Command uo_playStep(forward) starts step forward reproduction. Commanduo_playStep(backward) starts step backward reproduction Commanduo_pauseOn( ) pauses reproduction Command uo_pauseOff( ) cancels thepause state of reproduction.

Command uo_setAudioEnabled(Boolean) turns ON/OFF an audio stream. Whenthis command is executed, the value of flag audioFlag is correspondinglychanged. Command uo_setSubtitleEnabled(Boolean) turns ON/OFF a subtitlestream. When this command is executed, the value of flag'subtitleFlag iscorrespondingly changed. Command uo_angleChange( ) changes a displayangle. When the movie player 300 is informed of this commandcorresponding to the user's operation, the movie player 300 informs thescript layer 302 of event angleChange. Commanduo_audiochange(audioStreamNumber) changes an audio stream to bereproduced. Command uo_changeAudioChannel(value) changes the number ofaudio channels or changes one channel to the other channel in the dualmonaural reproduction. When this command is executed, the value of flagaudioFlag is correspondingly changed. Commanduo_subtitleChange(subtitleStreamNumber) changes the existing subtitlestream to another subtitle stream.

Next, the relationship between events shown in FIG. 12 and methods ofthe movie player 300 will be described in detail. Event menu jumps to amenu. The native implementation platform 301 informs the script layer302 rather than the movie player 300 of this event. When the scriptlayer 302 receives event menu, the script layer 302 executes eventhandler onMenu. Event exit is an event that the native implementationplatform 301 issues when it completes an UMD video application. When thescript layer 302 receives event exit, the script layer 302 executesevent handler onExit.

Event resourceChanged is an event that the native implementationplatform 301 generates when the existing resource file is changed toanother resource file. When the script layer 302 receives eventresourceChanged, the script layer 302 executes event handleronResourceChanged.

Event up, event down, event left, event right, event focusIn, eventfocusOut, event push, and event cancel are events that occur when buttonimages as GUI parts on the screen are focused. The native implementationplatform 301 informs the script layer 302 rather than the movie player300 of these events. When a button image is focused, for example thecursor displayed on the screen represents the coordinates of the buttonimage so that the button image can be selected. Event up, event down,event left, and event right occur when an up button image, a down buttonimage, a left button image, and a right button image are focused,respectively. Event focusIn occurs when any button image is focused.Event focusOut occurs when any focused button image is defocused. Eventpush occurs when a press operation is performed for any focused buttonimage. Event cancel occurs when a cancel operation is performed againstthe press operation for any button image.

Event autoPlay and event continuePlay are events that cause the scriptlayer 302 to start executing a script. Event autoPlay is an event thatcauses a script to automatically start execution when a disc is loaded.Event continuePlay causes a script to resume execution to the positionat which the execution of a script was stopped according to for examplethe resume information 324 when a disc is loaded.

There are programs that are executed when events shown in FIG. 12 occur.These programs corresponding to the events are referred to as eventhandlers. Events and event handlers can be correlated using for examplenames. The name of an event handler is created by adding a prefix “on”to the name of the corresponding event. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 showexamples of event handlers. When the content creator describes thecontents of event handlers, the UMD video player can perform variousoperations that the content creator intends.

FIG. 13 shows examples of events that the movie player object 300 hasand event handlers that correspond thereto. Events shown in FIG. 13correspond to the event 312 shown in FIG. 2. The movie player 300informs the script layer 302 of the events shown in FIG. 13. The eventhandlers are kinds of interfaces. The contents of the event handlers areimplemented by the content creator using for example a script language.Since the event handlers have such a structure, when events occur,operations that the content creator intends can be accomplished.

Event mark and event handler onMark( ) are executed when an event markis detected. An event mark is embedded in for example a play list. Whilethe movie player 300 is reproducing a play list, the movie player 300detects an event-mark from the play list. When the movie player 300detects the event-mark, the movie player 300 informs the script layer302 of event mark. The script layer 302 executes event handler onMark( )corresponding to event mark. Likewise, event playListEnd and eventhandler onPlayListEnd( ) are executed when the reproduction of a playlist is completed. Event chapter and event handler onChapter( ) areexecuted when a chapter-mark is detected. A chapter mark is embedded infor example a play list and detected by the movie player 300 while it isreproducing the play list.

Event angleChange and event handler onAngleChange( ) are executed whenan angle change is designated by a user's operation. For example, whenkey input VK_ANGLE is input to the native implementation platform 301 bya user's operation as the user's input 310, the native implementationplatform 301 converts the user's input 310 into command uo_angleChange() and supplies it to the movie player 300. The movie player 300generates event angleChange corresponding to command uo_angleChange andsupplies event angleChange to the script layer 302. The script layer 302executes event handler onAngleChange( ) corresponding to eventangleChange. Likewise, event audiochange and event handleronAudioChange( ) are executed when the audio change is designated by auser's operation. Event subtitleChange and event handleronSubtitleChange( ) are executed when a subtitle change is designated bya user's operation.

FIG. 14 shows examples of event handlers that the controller object 330has. The event handlers shown in FIG. 14 are event handlers that belongto the controller object 330 of the native implementation platform 301.When the native implementation platform 301 informs the script layer 302of the event handlers, the script layer 302 executes them.

Event menu and event handler onMenu( ) jump to a menu. Event menu is anevent of which the native implementation platform 301 informs the scriptlayer 302 when the menu key is pressed by a user's operation The scriptlayer 302 receives this event, executes event handler onMenu( )corresponding thereto, and arranges and displays GUI parts that composea menu screen with event handler onMenu( ). Event exit and event handleronExit( ) are an event and the corresponding event handler. When thenative implementation platform 301 completes a UMD video application,the native implementation platform 301 generates event exit.

When the completion of the operation of the UMD video player isdesignated by for example a user's operation, the native implementationplatform 301 informs the script layer 302 of event exit. When the scriptlayer 302 receives event exit, the script performs an exit process withevent handler onExit( ).

Event resourceChanged and event handler onResourceChanged( ) are anevent and the corresponding event handler. After the nativeimplementation platform 301 has changed the existing resource file toanother resource file, the native implementation platform 301 generatesevent resourceChanged.

Event autoPlay, event handler onAutoPlay( ), event continuePlay, andevent handler onContinuePlay( ) cause a script to start execution.

Besides event handlers for the controller object 330, there are eventhandlers for buttons. However, event handlers for buttons do not closelyrelate to this embodiment of the present invention, their descriptionwill be omitted.

Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 15, an example of aprocess that executes a provided program upon the occurrence of an eventof a user's input will be described in brief. FIG. 15 shows an exampleof which while the UMD video player is normally reproducing data from adisc, when the user presses a key to causes the UMD video player toreproduce the next chapter (for example, “next” key), the UMD videoplayer jumps to the next chapter according to the key input, startsreproducing data from the next chapter, and displays a provided messageon the screen.

While the UMD video player is normally reproducing data from the disc,when the user presses the key “next” on the remote control commander ofthe UMD video player (at step 510), key VK_NEXT is supplied as theuser's input 310 to the native implementation platform 301. The nativeimplementation platform 301 generates user command uo_playNextChapter( )corresponding to the user's input 310 (at step S11). The nativeimplementation platform 301 informs the movie player 300 of user commanduo_playNextChapter( ).

When the movie player 300 receives command uo_playNextChapter( ) themovie player 300 searches the database 320 for the position of the nextchapter mark based on the current reproduction position according toplay list information (at step S12). At step S13, it is determinedwhether the next chapter mark exists. When the determined resultrepresents that the next chapter mark does not exist, the movie player300 does not jump to the next chapter, but continues the currentreproduction operation.

In contrast, when the determined result at step S13 represents that thenext chapter mark exists, the flow advances to step S14. At step S14,the movie player 300 stops the current reproduction and obtains the byteposition of the next chapter mark in the clip AV stream file fromfeature point information of the clip information file of the database320. At step S15, the movie player 300 accesses the obtained byteposition of the file and starts reproducing the stream from theposition.

After step S16, a process that displays a message that informs the userthat the existing chapter was changed to the next chapter on the screenis performed. When the existing chapter is changed to the next chapterand the reproduction is started from the beginning of the next chapter,event chapter occurs (at step S16). For example, the movie player 300detects a chapter-mark at the beginning of the chapter and generatesevent chapter. The movie player 300 informs the script layer 302 ofevent chapter. In addition, the movie player 300 informs the scriptlayer 302 of the chapter number of the chapter to be jumped. The scriptlayer 302 starts executing an event handler corresponding to theinformed event, for example event handler onChapter( ) (at step S17).

In this example, it is assumed that an operation that displays a messagethat represents that the chapter was changed on the screen is describedin the event handler. A script in the script layer 302 executes theevent handler, obtains the chapter number of which the movie player 300informed the script layer 302 when the event occurred (at step S18), andcauses the native implementation platform 301 to display a predeterminedmessage that represents for example the beginning of the chapter of theobtained chapter number on the screen. Accordingly, the nativeimplementation platform 301 displays the message on the screen (at stepS19) and completes the process of the event handler (at step S20).

In the foregoing process, when the user operates the key “next”, whichcauses the movie player 300 to start reproducing data from the nextchapter, the movie player 300 jumps to the next chapter. When the movieplayer 300 starts reproducing the next chapter, the movie player 300displays a message that represents the beginning of the next chapter onthe screen.

Thus, an event of a user's input causes the state of the movie player300 to be changed and a new event to occur. With new events, the movieplayer 300 can perform various processes.

The player model can reproduce video data, audio data, and subtitledata. With events that the content creator intended so that they occurat times during the reproduction and corresponding event handlers thatare executed corresponding to the events, operations that he or sheintended can be accomplished. In addition, when a user operation ispreformed of the player while it is reproducing a play list, the nativeimplementation platform 301 supplies to the movie player 300 a controlcommand corresponding to the user input 310 as the user's operation sothat the existing state of the player is changed to another state thatthe user desired. In addition, the native implementation platform 301informs the script in the script layer 302 of an event corresponding tothe user's input 310 as the user's operation to the player. As a result,the operations of the player that the content creator provided can beaccomplished corresponding to user's operations.

Since the player model has such a structure, the user can reproducevideo data, audio data, and subtitle data and interactively operatethem.

5. Example of Script Program

Next, an example of a script program in the script layer 302 will bedescribed. It is assumed that the content creator created a flow ofreproduction of a content as shown in FIG. 16. The content shown in FIG.16 has as display elements play lists 400 and 401, a top menu 402, and amessage 403. The play list 400 is used to display a warning message thatis automatically displayed when a disc is loaded. The play list 401 is amain part of a movie as an example of the content. The top menu 402 hasGUI parts such as buttons with which for example the user causes thescript to reproduce the play list 401. The message 403 is displayed atany time during the reproduction of the play list 401.

In addition, in the structure shown in FIG. 16, several event handlersare provided. When a disc is loaded into the UMD video player, eventhandler onAutoPlay( ) automatically reproduces the play list 400 fromthe disc and displays a warning message on the screen. Event handleronPlayListEnd( ) is an event handler that is called when thereproduction of the play list is completed. In the example shown in FIG.16, when the reproduction of the play list 400 or the play list 401 iscompleted, event handler onPlayListEnd( ) is called. In other words,event handler onPlayListEnd( ) determines whether the reproduction of aplay list is completed. When the reproduction of the play list 400 iscompleted, event handler onPlayListEnd( ) starts reproduction of theplay list 401. When the reproduction of the play list 401 is completed,event handler onPlayListEnd calls the top menu 402.

Event handler onMenu( ) is called when the user operates the menu key.Event handler onMenu( ) calls the top menu 402 and displays it on thescreen Event handler onMark( ) is executed when time designated by markMark elapsed during the execution of a play list. In the example shownin FIG. 16, mark Mark is set in the play list 401. During the executionof the play list 401, when time designated by mark Mark elapses, themessage 403 is displayed on the screen.

In the example shown in FIG. 16, when a disc is loaded into the UMDvideo player, event handler onAutoPlay is called. Event handleronAutoPlay reproduces the play list 400 and displays a warning messageon the screen. After the reproduction time of the play list 400 haselapsed, the play list 400 comes to the end and event handleronPlayListEnd is called. Event handler onPlayListEnd determines that theplay list 400 has been completely reproduced and reproduces the nextplay list 401. When the user operates the menu key while the play list401 is being reproduced, event handler onMenu is called. Event handleronMenu displays the top menu 402 on the screen. Event handler onMenustarts reproducing the play list 401 from the beginning corresponding toa predetermined operation on the top menu 402. When the reproductiontime of the play list 401 has elapsed for time designated by mark Mark,event handler onMark is called. Event handler onMark displays themessage 403 on the screen. When the play list 401 has been completelyreproduced, event handler onPlayListEnd is called. Event handleronPlayListEnd determines that the play list 401 has been completelyreproduced and displays the top menu 402 on the screen.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a script program that accomplishes theoperation shown in FIG. 16. As described above, the script program hasevent handlers and executes them upon the occurrence of correspondingevents. The script program is stored in resource file “SCRIPT.DAT” withextension “RCO.”

Method “movieplayer.play( )” causes the movie player 300 to reproduce aplay list. The play list number of a play list to be reproduced isdescribed in parentheses ( ) as an argument. When the play list has beencompletely reproduced, event playListEnd occurs. When event playListEndoccurs, the script calls event handler movieplayer.onPlayListEnd( ). Atthis point, event playListEnd and object event_info are supplied to thescript. The play list number of a play list that has been completelyreproduced and so forth are stored in object event_info. The script canchange the next operation corresponding to the content of objectevent_info.

6. File Management Structure

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, the file management structure accordingto the UMD Video Standard will be described. Files are hierarchicallymanaged in a directory structure and recorded on a disc. A disc filesystem standardized by International Organization for Standardization(ISO) 9660, Universal Disk Format (UDF), or the like may be used.

File “TITLEID.DAT” and directory “VIDEO” are placed under the rootdirectory. Directory “RESOURCE,” directory “CLIP,” directory “STREAM,”and file “PLAYLIST.DAT” are placed under directory “VIDEO.”

File “TITLEID.DAT” is a file that stores a title identifier that differsin each title (type of content). One disk has one file “TITLEID.DAT.”

Resource file “JA000000.RCO” is placed under directory “RESOURCE.” Asdescribed above, in addition to a script program that composes thescript layer 302, data that compose a menu screen, for example part datasuch as image data and sound data, are contained in the resource file.One resource file is normally placed under directory “RESOURCE.”Instead, a plurality of resource files may be placed under directory“RESOURCE.” A plurality of resource files are created for a plurality ofmenus that are different in languages. In this case, however, oneresource file is used at a time.

A resource file has a file name having a period as a delimiter and fixedextension “RCO” that a resource file. The character string followed bythe period represents the contents of the resource file. The file nameof a resource file has a format of “CCdannn RCO.” The first twocharacters “CC” represent a language code of the resource file. The nextcharacter “d” is a flag that represents whether the language code is adefault language. The next character “a” represents the aspect ratio ofthe display screen. The next four characters “nnnn” represent anidentification number. The identification number is assigned so thatfile names of resource files are not redundant.

According to the naming rule of a resource file, the file name thereofrepresents the language attribute of resource data and the aspect ratioof the display screen. A resource file is properly selected according tothe file name.

At least one clip information file is placed under directory “CLIP.” Aclip information file has a file name composed of a character stringportion having five to several characters such as “00001” (in thisexample, numerals), a period as a delimiter, and an extension portionsuch as “CLP.”. Extension portion “CLP” represents that the file is aclip information file.

At least one clip AV stream file is placed under directory “STREAM.” Aclip AV stream file has a file name composed of a character stringportion having several to five characters such as “00001” (in thisexample, numerals), a period as a delimiter, and an extension portionsuch as “PS.” Extension portion “PS” represents that the file is a clipAV stream file. According to this embodiment of the present invention, aclip AV stream file is an Moving Pictures Experts Group 2 (MPEG2)program stream of which a video stream, an audio stream, and a subtitlestream are multiplexed and contained in a file identified by extensionportion “PS.”

As described above, a clip AV stream file is a file of which video dataand audio data are compression-encoded and time-division multiplexed.Thus, when the clip AV stream file is read and decoded, video data andaudio data are obtained. A clip information file is a file thatdescribes the characteristics of a clip AV stream file. Thus, a clipinformation file and a clip AV stream file are correlated. According tothis embodiment of the present invention, since the character stringportions having several to five characters of the file names of the clipinformation file and the clip AV stream file are the same, therelationship therebetween can be easily obtained.

As described above, a resource file contains a script file thatdescribes a script program. A resource file contains a program thatcauses reproduction states for a disc to be interactively changedaccording to this embodiment of the present invention. A resource fileis read before other files are read from the disc.

File “PLAYLIST.DAT” is a play list file that describes a play list thatdesignates the reproduction order of a clip AV stream. Next, withreference to FIG. 24 to FIG. 26, the internal structure of file“PLAYLIST.DAT” will be described. FIG. 24 shows an example of syntaxthat represents the overall structure of file “PLAYLIST.DAT.” In thisexample, the syntax is described in the C language, which is used as adescriptive language for programs of computer devices. This applies totables that represent other syntaxes.

Field name_length has a data length of 8 bits and represents the lengthof the name assigned to the play list file. Field name_string has a datalength of 255 bytes and represents the name assigned to the play listfile. In field name_string, the area from the beginning for the bytelength represented by field name_length is used as a valid name. Whenthe value of field “name_length” is “10,” 10 bytes from the beginning offield name_string is interpreted as a valid name.

Field number_of_PlayLists has a data length of 16 bits and representsthe number of blocks PlayList( ) that follow. Field number_of PlayListsis followed by a for loop. The for loop describes blocks PlayList( )corresponding to field number_of_PlayLists. Block PlayList( ) is a playlist itself.

Next, an example of the internal structure of block PlayList( ) will bedescribed. Block PlayList( ) starts with field PlayList_data_length.Field PlayList_data_length has a data length of 32 bits and representsthe data length of block PlayList( ), including fieldPlayList_data_length. Field PlayList_data_length is followed by fieldreserved_for_word_alignment having a data length of 15 bits and flagcapture_enable_flag_PlayList having a data length of 1 bit. Fieldreserved_for_word_alignment and flag capture_enable flag_PlayList havinga data length of 1 bit align data in 16 bits in block PlayList( ).

Flag capture_enable_flag_PlayList is a flag that represents whether amoving picture that belongs to block PlayList( ) including flagcapture_enable_flag_PlayList is permitted to be secondarily used. Whenthe value of flag capture_enable_flag_PlayList is for example “1,” itrepresents that the moving picture that belongs to PlayList( ) ispermitted to be secondarily used in the player.

In the foregoing example, flag capture_enable_flag_PlayList has a datalength of 1 bit. Instead, flag capture_enable_flag_PlayList may have adata length of a plurality of bits that describe a plurality ofsecondary use permission levels. For example, flagcapture_enable_flag_PlayList may have a data length of 2 bits. In thiscase, when the value of the flag is “0”, the moving picture may not beperfectly prohibited from being secondarily used. When the value of theflag is “1,” the moving picture may be permitted to be secondarily usedin the case that the moving picture is compression-encoded with apredetermined resolution or lower such as 64 pixels×64 lines. When thevalue of the flag is “2,” the moving picture may be perfectly permittedto be secondarily used without any restriction. Instead, when the valueof bit 0 of the flag is “0,” the moving picture may be permitted to besecondarily used in the content reproduction application. When the valueof bit 1 of the flag is “1,” the moving picture may be permitted to besecondarily used in another application (for example, wall paper imageor a screen saver) in the movie player. In this case, the values of bits0 and 1 of the flag may be used in combination.

Field PlayList_name_length has a data length of 8 bits and representsthe length of the name assigned to block PlayList( ). FieldPlayList_name_string has a data length of 255 bits and represents thename assigned to block PlayList( ). In Field PlayList_name_string, thearea from the beginning for the byte length represented by fieldPlayList_name_string is used as a valid name.

Field number_of_PlayItems has a data length of 16 bits and representsthe number of blocks PlayItem( ) that follow. Field number_of_PlayItemsis followed by a for loop. The for loop describes blocks PlayItem( )corresponding to field number_of_PlayItems. Block PlayItem( ) is a playitem itself.

Blocks PlayItem( ) of block PlayList are assigned identificationinformation (ID). For example, block PlayItem( ) described at thebeginning of block PlayList( ) is assigned for example 0. BlocksPlayItem( ) are assigned serial numbers in the order of appearance suchas 1, 2, and so forth. The serial numbers are used as identificationinformation of blocks PlayItem( ). Argument i of the for loop repeatedfor blocks PlayItem( ) can be used as identification information forblocks PlayItem( ). Block PlayItem( ) is followed by block PlayListMark().

Next, with reference to FIG. 20, an example of the internal structure ofblock PlayItem( ) will be described. Block PlayItem( ) starts with fieldlength. Field length has a data length of 16 bits and represents thelength of block PlayItem( ). Field length is followed by fieldClip_Information_file_name_length. FieldClip_Information_file_name_length has a data length of 16 bits andrepresents the length of the name of the clip information filecorresponding to block PlayItem( ). Field Clip_Information_file_name hasa variable data length in bytes and represents the name of the clipinformation file corresponding to block PlayItem( ). In fieldClip_Information_file_name, the area from the beginning for the bytelength represented by field Clip_Information_file_name is used as avalid name. When a clip information file is designated by fieldClip_Information_file_name, a clip AV stream file corresponding to theclip information file can be identified according to the above-describedrelationship of the file names.

Field IN_time and field OUT_time have a data length of 33 bits each.Field IN_time and field OUT_time are time information that designate thereproduction start position and the reproduction end position of a clipAV stream file corresponding to the clip information file designated byfield Clip_Information_file_name in block PlayItem( ). With informationof field IN_time and field OUT_time, the reproduction start positionother than the beginning of the clip AV stream file can be designated.Likewise, with information of field IN_time and field OUT_time, thereproduction end position other than the end of the clip AV stream filecan be designated. Field reserved_for_word_alignment is an adjustmentfield that causes the data length of the data structure to become amultiple of 16 bits. Field reserved_for_word_alignment has a data lengthof 15 bits.

Next, with reference to FIG. 21, an example of the internal structure ofblock PlayListMark( ) will be described. Block PlayListMark( ) startswith field length. Field length has a data length of 32 bits andrepresents the length of block PlayListMark( ). Field length is followedby field number_of_PlayList_marks. Field number_of_PlayList_marks has adata length of 16 bits and represents the number of blocks Mark( ).Field number_of_PlayList_marks is followed by a for loop. The for loopdescribes blocks Mark( ) corresponding to fieldnumber_of_PlayList_marks.

Next, an example of the internal structure of block Mark( ) will bedescribed. Block Mark( ) starts with field mark_type. Field mark_typehas a data length of 8 bits and represents the type of block Mark( )including field mark_type. According to this embodiment of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 22, two types of marks, a chapter mark andan event mark, are defined. A chapter is a search unit that divides aplay list (block PlayList( )). A chapter mark represents the chapterposition with time information An event mark is a Mark that causes anevent to occur.

Field mark_name_length has a data length of 8 bits and represents thelength of the name assigned to block Mark( ). Field mark_name_string atthe last line of block Mark( ) represents the name assigned to blockMark( ). In field mark_name_string, the area from the beginning for thebyte length represented by field mark_name_length is used as a validname.

Four elements of field ref_to_PlayItem_id, field mark_time_stamp, fieldentry_ES_stream_id, and field entry_ES_private_stream_id correlate blockMark( ) defined in block PlayList( ) with a clip AV stream file. Inother words, field ref_to_PlayItem_id has a data length of 16 bits andrepresents identification information of block PlayItem( ). Thus, fieldref_to_PlayItem_id identifies a clip information file and a clip AVstream file.

Field mark_time_stamp has a data length of 33 bits and designates thetime of a mark in a clip AV stream file. Next, with reference to FIG.23, field mark_time_stamp will be described in brief. In FIG. 23, a playlist is composed of three play items assigned numbers 0, 1, and 2(PlayItem(#0), PlayItem(#1), and PlayItem(#2)). It is assumed that timet₀ of the play list is contained in play item 1 (PlayItem(#1)). Inaddition, it is assumed that play items 0, 1, and 2 correspond toprogram streams A, B, and C of clip AV stream files through clipinformation files, respectively.

In this case, when a mark is designated to time t₀ of the play list, thevalue of field ref_to PlayItem_id is “1” that represents a play itemincluding time t₀. In addition, time corresponding to time t₀ in thecorresponding clip AV stream file is described in field mark_time_stamp.

Returning to the description of FIG. 21, field mark_time_stamp isfollowed by field entry_ES_stream_id and fieldentry_ES_private_stream_id. Field entry_ES_stream_id and fieldentry_ES_private_stream_id have a data length of 8 bits each. When blockMark( ) is correlated with a predetermined elementary stream, fieldentry_ES_stream_id and field entry_ES_private_stream_id identify theelementary stream. Field entry_ES_stream_id and fieldentry_ES_private_stream_id represent a stream ID (stream_id) of packets(packet( )) in which elementary streams are multiplexed and a privatestream ID (private_stream_id) of a private packet header (privatepacket_header( )), respectively.

The stream ID (stream_id) of the packets (packet( )) and the privatestream ID (private_stream_id) of the private packet header(private_packet_header( )) are based on provisions on a program streamof for example the MPEG2 system.

Field entry_ES_stream_id and field entry_ES_private_stream_id are usedwhen the chapter structure of clip AV stream #0 is different from thatof clip AV stream #1. When block Mark( ) is not correlated with apredetermined elementary stream, the values of these two fields are “0.”

Next, with reference to FIG. 24 to FIG. 28, the internal structure of aclip information file will be described. As described above, clipinformation file “XXXXX.CLP” describes the characteristics and so forthof corresponding clip AV stream file “XXXXX.PS” placed under directory“STREAM.”

FIG. 24 shows an example of syntax that represents the overall structureof clip AV stream file “XXXXX.CLP.” Clip AV stream file “XXXXX.CLP”starts with field presentation_start_time and fieldpresentation_end_time. Field presentation_start_time and fieldpresentation_end_time have a data length of 33 bits each and representthe times of the beginning and end of the corresponding clip AV streamfile. As time information, the presentation time stamp (PTS) of theMPEG2 system may be used. The PTS has an accuracy of 90 kHz.

Field presentation_start_time and field presentation_end_time arefollowed by field reserved_for_word_alignment that has a data length of7 bits and flag capture_enable_flag_Clip that has a data length of 1bits. Field reserved_for_word_alignment and flagcapture_enable_flag_Clip having a data length of 1 bit align data in 16bits in file “XXXXX.CLP.” Flag capture_enable_flag_Clip is a flag thatrepresents whether a moving picture contained in a clip AV stream filecorresponding to file “XXXXX.CLP.” is permitted to be secondarily used.For example, when the value of flag capture_enable_flag_Clip is forexample “1,” it represents that the moving picture of the clip AV streamfile corresponding to file “XXXXX.CLP” is permitted to be secondarilyused in the video player.

Field number_of_streams has a data length of 8 bits and represents thenumber of blocks StreamInfo( ) that follow. Field number_of_streams isfollowed by a for loop. The for loop describes blocks StreamInfo( )corresponding to field number_of_streams. The for loop is followed byblock EP_map( ).

Next, an example of the internal structure of block StreamInfo( ) willbe described. Block StreamInfo( ) starts with field length. Field lengthhas a data length of 16 bits and represents the length of blockStreamInfo( ). Field length is followed by field stream_id and fieldprivate_stream that have a data length of 8 bits each. As shown in FIG.25, block StreamInfo( ) is correlated with elementary streams. In theexample shown in FIG. 25, when the value of field stream_id of blockStreamInfo( ) is in the range from “0xE0” to “0xEF,” block StreamInfo( )is correlated with a video stream. When the value of field stream_id ofblock StreamInfo( ) is “0xBD,” block StreamInfo( ) is correlated with anAdaptive Transform Acoustic Coding (ATRAC) audio stream, a Linear PulseCode Modulation (LPCM) audio stream or a subtitle stream. When the valueof field private_stream_id of block StreamInfo( ) is in the range from“0x00” to “0x0F,” from “0x10” to “0x1F,” and from “0x80” to “0x9F,”block StreamInfo( ) is correlated with an ATRAC audio stream, an LPCMaudio stream, and a subtitle stream, respectively.

In FIG. 25, “0x” represents hexadecimal notation. This notation appliesto the following description.

Block StreamInfo( ) mainly describes two types of information, the firsttype not varying in a stream, the second type varying in a stream.Information that does not vary in a stream is described in blockStaticInfo( ), whereas information that varies in a stream is describedin block DynamicInfo( ) with change points designated with timeinformation.

Block StaticInfo( ) starts with field reserved_for_word_alignment thathas a data length of 8 bits. Field reserved_for_word_alignment alignsdata in a byte in block StreamInfo( ). Field reserved_for_word_alignmentis followed by field number_of_DynamicInfo. Field number_of_DynamicInfohas a data length of 8 bits and represents the number of blocksDynamicInfo( ) that follow. Field number_of_DynamicInfo is followed by afor loop. The for loop describes field pts_change_point and blockDynamicInfo( ) repeated corresponding to field number_of_DynamicInfo.

Field pts_change_point has a data length of 33 bits and represents timeat which information of block DynamicInfo( ) becomes valid with PTS.Time at which each stream starts is represented by fieldpts_change_point and is equal to field presentation_start_time definedin file “XXXXX.CLP.”

Next, with reference to FIG. 26, an example of the internal structure ofblock StaticInfo( ) will be described. The contents of block StaticInfo() depend on the type of the corresponding elementary stream. The type ofthe corresponding elementary stream can be identified by the values offield stream_id and field private_stream_id as shown in FIG. 25. FIG. 26shows block StaticInfo( ) whose contents vary depending on the type ofan elementary stream, which is a video stream, an audio stream, or asubtitle stream using an if statement. Next, block StaticInfo( ) will bedescribed according to the types of elementary streams. FIG. 26 showsblock StaticInfo( ) that represents whether the type of the elementarystream is a video stream, an audio stream, or a subtitle stream using anif statement. Next, block StaticInfo( ) will be described according tothe types of the elementary streams.

When the elementary stream is a video stream, block StaticInfo( ) iscomposed of field picture_size having a data length of 4 bits, fieldframe_rate having a data length of 4 bits, and flag cc_flag having adata length of 1 bit. Field picture_size and field frame_rate representthe picture size and the frame frequency of the video stream. Flagcc_flag represents whether the video stream contains a closed captionWhen the value of flag cc_flag is for example “1,” the video streamcontains a closed caption. Field reserved_for_word_alignment aligns datain 16 bits.

When the elementary stream is an audio stream, block StaticInfo( ) iscomposed of field audio_language_code having a data length of 16 bits,field channel_configuration having a data length of 8 bits, flaglfe_existance having a data length of 1 bit, and fieldsampling_frequency having a data length of 4 bits. Fieldaudio_language_code represents a language code contained in the audiostream. Field channel_configuration represents a channel attribute ofaudio data such as monaural, stereo, multi-channel, or the like. Fieldlfe_existance represents whether the audio stream contains a lowfrequency emphasis channel. When the value of field lfe_existance is forexample “1,” the audio stream contains the low frequency emphasischannel. Field sampling_frequency represents the sampling frequency ofaudio data. Field reserved_for_word_alignment aligns data in 16 bits.

When the elementary stream is a subtitle stream, block StaticInfo( ) iscomposed of field subtitle_language_code having a data length of 16 bitsand flag configurable_flag having a data length of 1 bit. Fieldsubtitle_language_code represents a language code contained in thesubtitle stream. Flag configurable_flag represents whether the size andposition of characters of the subtitle stream that is displayed arepermitted to be changed. When the value of flag configurable_flag is forexample “1,” it represents that the size and position of characters ofthe subtitle stream that is displayed are permitted to be changed. Fieldreserved_for_word_alignment aligns data in 16 bits.

Next, with reference to FIG. 27, an example of the internal structure ofblock DynamicInfo( ) will be described. Block DynamicInfo( ) starts withfield reserved_for_word_alignment having a data length of 8 bits.Elements preceded by field reserved_for_word_alignment depend on thetype of the elementary stream. The type of the elementary stream can beidentified by the values of field stream_id and field private_stream_iddescribed with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 27 shows block DynamicInfo( )whose contents vary depending on the type of an elementary stream, whichis a video stream, an audio stream, or a subtitle stream using an ifstatement. Next, block DynamicInfo( ) will be described according to thetypes of elementary streams.

When the elementary stream is a video stream, block DynamicInfo( ) iscomposed of field display_aspect_ratio having a data length of 4 bits.Field display_aspect_ratio represents whether the display output aspectratio of video data is 16:9 or 4:3. Field reserved_for_word_alignmentaligns data in 16 bits.

When the elementary stream is an audio stream, block DynamicInfo( ) iscomposed of field channel_assignment having a data length of 4 bits.When the audio stream is composed of two channels, fieldchannel_assignment represents whether the output is a stereo or a dualmonaural. The dual monaural is used to reproduce for example bilingualaudio data. Field reserved_for_word_alignment aligns data in 16 bits.

When the elementary stream is a subtitle stream, block DynamicInfo( ) iscomposed of field reserved_for_word_alignment. Fieldreserved_for_word_alignment aligns data in 16 bits. In other words, withrespect to a subtitle stream, block DynamicInfo( ) does not define anattribute that dynamically varies.

Next, with reference to FIG. 28, an example of the internal structure ofblock EP_map( ) will be described. Block EP_map( ) represents a validdecode start position (referred to as an entry point or a random accesspoint (RAP)) of a bit stream of each elementary stream with timeinformation and position information. The position information may bethe minimum access unit for a recording medium on which an elementarystream is recorded. Each elementary stream can be decoded from theposition represented by block EP_map( ).

Since the valid decode start position of a fixed rate stream can becalculated, information such as block EP_map( ) is not necessary. On theother hand, for a variable rate stream and a stream whose data sizevaries in each access unit such as a stream according to the MPEG videocompression-encoding system, block EP_map( ) is important informationnecessary for randomly accessing data.

Block EP_map( ) starts with field reserved_for_word_alignment having adata length of 8 bits. Field reserved_for_word_alignment aligns data in16 bits. Field reserved_for_word_alignment is followed by fieldnumber_of_stream_id_entries. Field number_of_stream_id_entries has adata length of 8 bits and represents the number of elementary streamsdescribed in block EP_map( ). A first for loop describes fieldstream_id, field private_stream_id, and field number_of_EP_entriesrepeated corresponding to field number_of_stream_id_entries. In thefirst for loop, a second for loop describes field PTS_EP_start and fieldRPN_EP start repeated corresponding to field number_of EP_entries.

The first for loop describes field stream_id and field private_stream_idthat have a data length of 8 bits each and identify the type of theelementary stream as shown in FIG. 25. Field stream_id and fieldprivate_stream_id are followed by field number_of_EP_entries. Fieldnumber_of_EP_entries has a data length of 32 bits and represents thenumber of entry points described in the elementary stream. The secondfor loop describes field PTS_EP_start and field RPN_EP_start repeatedcorresponding to field number_of_EP_entries.

Field PTS_EP_start and field RPN_EP_start have a data length of 33 bitseach and represent entry points themselves. Field PTS_EP startrepresents time of an entry point in a clip AV stream file with the PTS.On the other hand, field RPN_EP_start represents the position of anentry point in a clip AV stream file in the unit of 2048 bytes.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, one sector as adisc access unit is 2048 bytes. Thus, field RPN_EP_start represents theposition of an entry point of a clip AV stream file in sectors.

The valid reproduction start position of a video stream is immediatelypreceded by packet private_stream_(—)2. Packet private_stream_(—)2 is apacket that contains information that can be used to decode a videostream. Thus, the position of an entry point of a video stream is theposition of pack pack( ) that contains packet private_stream_(—)2.

Block EP_map correlates times of a clip AV stream and positions of aclip AV stream file. Thus, with time information (time stamp) of anaccess point of a clip AV stream, the clip AV stream file can be easilysearched for a data address at which data are read. As a result, thedisc can be smoothly accessed at random.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, in block EP_map(), sets of time information and position information (sets of fieldPTS_EP_start and field RPN_EP_start in the second for loop) for eachelementary stream are pre-registered in the ascending order (descendingorder). In other words, time information and position information havebeen rearranged in a predetermined direction. Thus, a binary search canbe performed for the data.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, as describedabove, an elementary stream of video data is an elementary streamaccording to the MPEG2-Video Standard. However, this embodiment of thepresent invention is not limited to this example. For example, anelementary stream of video data may be an elementary stream according tothe MPEG4-Visual Standard or the MPEG4-AVC Standard. Likewise, accordingto this embodiment of the present invention, as described above, anelementary stream of audio data is an elementary stream according to theATRAC Audio System. However, this embodiment of the present invention isnot limited to such an example. Instead, an elementary stream of audiodata may be an elementary stream according to for example the MPEG1/2/4Audio System.

7. Disc Reproduction Apparatus

Next, a disc reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 29 shows an example of thestructure of a disc reproduction apparatus 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Connected to a bus 111 are acentral processing unit (CPU) 112, a memory 113, a drive interface 114,an input interface 115, a video decoder 116, an audio decoder 117, avideo output interface 118, and an audio output interface 119. Eachsection of the disc reproduction apparatus 100 can exchange a videostream, an audio stream various commands, data, and so forth with othersections through the bus 111.

In addition, a disc drive 102 is connected to the drive interface 114.The disc drive 102 exchanges data and commands with the bus 111 throughthe drive interface 114.

The CPU 112 has a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory(RAM) (not shown). The CPU 112 exchanges data and commands with eachsection of the disc reproduction apparatus 100 through the bus 111according to a program and data pre-stored in the ROM and controls theentire disc reproduction apparatus 100. The RAM is used as a work memoryof the CPU 112.

Although omitted in FIG. 29, the disc reproduction apparatus 100 canhave a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory that can rewrite dataand hold it after the power of the disc reproduction apparatus 100 isturned off. The nonvolatile memory is connected to for example the bus111 so that the CPU 112 writes data to the nonvolatile memory and readsdata therefrom.

Supplied to the input interface 115 is an input signal that is inputfrom an input device with which the user performs an input operation.The input device is for example a remote control commander with whichthe user remotely operates the disc reproduction apparatus 100 using forexample an infrared signal and keys disposed on the disc reproductionapparatus 100. The input interface 115 converts an input signal suppliedfrom the input device into a control signal for the CPU 112 and outputsthe control signal.

Recorded on a disc 101 in the format shown in FIG. 18 to FIG. 28 are aplay list, a script program, a clip information file, a clip AV streamfile, and so forth. When the disc 101 is loaded into the disc drive 102,it reproduce them from the disc 101 automatically or according to auser's input operation. A script file, a play list file, and a clipinformation file that are read from the disc 101 are supplied to the CPU112 and stored in for example a RAM of the CPU 112. The CPU 112 reads aclip AV stream file from the disc 101 according to data and a scriptprogram stored in the RAM.

The clip AV stream file, which is read from the disc 101, is temporarilystored in the memory 113. The video decoder 116 decodes a video streamand a subtitle stream of the clip AV stream file stored in the memory113 according to a command received from the CPU 112. The CPU 112performs an image process such as an enlargement process or a reductionprocess for the decoded video data and subtitle data, a synthesizationprocess or an addition process for the video stream and subtitle stream,and obtains one stream of video data. The image process may be performedby the video decoder 116 and the video output interface 118. The videodata are buffered in the memory 113 and supplied to the video outputinterface 118. The video output interface 118 converts the suppliedvideo data into an analog video signal and supplies the analog videosignal to a video output terminal 120.

Likewise, the audio decoder 117 decodes an audio stream of the clip AVstream file stored in the memory 113 according to a command receivedfrom the CPU 112. The decoded audio data are buffered in the memory 113and supplied to the audio output interface 119. The audio outputinterface 119 converts the supplied audio data into for example ananalog audio signal and supplies the analog audio signal to an audiooutput terminal 121.

In the example, each section shown in FIG. 29 is composed of independenthardware. However, this embodiment of the present invention is notlimited to this example. In other words, the video decoder 116 and/orthe audio decoder 117 may be composed of software that operates on theCPU 112.

The disc reproduction apparatus 100 has the CPU 112 and the memory andoperates according to the program. Thus, it can be thought that the discreproduction apparatus 100 is a kind of a computer device.

FIG. 30 is a functional block diagram describing the operation of thedisc reproduction apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 29 in detail. The discreproduction apparatus 100 is mainly composed of an operation system 201and a video content reproduction section 210. The video contentreproduction section 210 is substantially a software program thatoperates on the operation system 201. Instead, the video contentreproduction section 210 may be composed of software and hardware thatintegrally operate. In the following description, it is assumed that thevideo content reproduction section 210 is composed of software. In FIG.30, the disc drive 102 is omitted.

When the power of the disc reproduction apparatus 100 is turned on, theoperation system 201 initially starts up on the CPU 112 and performsnecessary processes such as initial settings for each section, and readsan application program (in this example, the video content reproductionsection 210) from the ROM. The operation system 201 provides basicservices such as reading of a file from the disc 101 and interpreting ofa file system to the video content reproduction section 210 while thevideo content reproduction section 210 is operating. For example, theoperation system 201 controls the disc drive 102 through the driveinterface 114 corresponding to a file read request supplied from thevideo content reproduction section 210 and reads data from the disc 101.The data that are read from the disc 101 are supplied to the videocontent reproduction section 210 under the control of the operationsystem 201.

The operation system 201 has a multitask process function thattime-division controls a plurality of software modules virtually inparallel. In other words, each module that composes the video contentreproduction section 210 shown in FIG. 30 can be operated in parallel bythe multitask process function of the operation system 201.

Next, the operation of the video content reproduction section 210 willbe described more specifically. The video content reproduction section210 has other several internal modules and accomplishes the followingfunctions.

-   (1) The video content reproduction section 210 determines whether    the loaded disc 101 is a disc according to the UMD Video Standard    (hereinafter this disc is referred to as the UMD video disc).-   (2) When the determined result represents that the loaded disc 101    is the UMD video disc, the video content reproduction section 210    reads a resource file from the disc 101 and supplies the script file    to a script control module 211.-   (3) When the determined result represents that the loaded disc 101    is the UMD video disc, the video content reproduction section 210    also reads files that compose a database (namely, a play list file,    a clip information file, and so forth) and supplies the files to a    player control module 212.

Next, the operations of the modules of the video content reproductionsection 210 will be described.

The script control module 211 stores the received resource file to forexample a predetermined area of a RAM (not shown) of the CPU 112. TheCPU 112 (script control module 211) reads the resource file from theRAM, interprets the resource file, and executes it. Instead, theresource file may be stored in a predetermine area of the memory 113 andwhen necessary, the resource file may be written to a RAM (not shown) ofthe CPU 112.

As described in the player model, GUIs that create and output images ofthe menu screen, move the cursor corresponding to a user's input, andchange the menu screen are accomplished by a graphics process module 219controlled according to the script program. At this point, with imagedata and sound data contained in the resource file stored in the memory113, the menu screen and so forth are created. By executing the scriptprogram, the script control module 211 can control the player controlmodule 212.

The player control module 212 references database information containedin files such as play list file “PLAYLIST.DAT” and clip information file“XXXXX.CLP” that are read from the disc 101 and performs the followingcontrols to reproduce video contents from the disc 101.

-   (1) The player control module 212 analyzes database information such    as a play list and clip information.-   (2) The player control module 212 controls a content data supply    module 213, a decode control module 214, and a buffer control module    215.-   (3) The player control module 212 performs player state change    controls such as a play state, a stop state, and a pause state and a    reproduction control process such as a stream change according to a    command received from the script control module 211 or the input    interface 115.-   (4) The player control module 212 obtains time information of a    video stream that is being reproduced from the decode control module    214, displays time, and generates a mark event.

The content data supply module 213 reads content data such as a clip AVstream file from the disc 101 according to a command received from theplayer control module 212 and supplies the content data to the buffercontrol module 215. The buffer control module 215 stores the contentdata in the memory 113 as a substance 215A of the buffer. The contentdata supply module 213 controls the buffer control module 215 to supplythe content data stored in the memory 113 to a video decoder controlmodule 216, an audio decoder control module 217, and a subtitle decodercontrol module 218 according to requests therefrom. In addition, thecontent data supply module 213 reads content data from the disc 101 sothat the content data stored under the control of the buffer controlmodule 215 becomes a predetermined amount.

The decode control module 214 controls the operations of the videodecoder control module 216, the audio decoder control module 217, andthe subtitle decoder control module 218 according to commands receivedfrom the player control module 212. The decode control module 214 has aninternal clock function and controls the operations of the video decodercontrol module 216, the audio decoder control module 217, and thesubtitle decoder control module 218 so that video data and audio dataare synchronously output.

The buffer control module 215 exclusively uses a part of the memory 113as the substance 215A of the buffer. The buffer control module 215stores a data start pointer and a data write pointer. The buffer controlmodule 215 also has as internal modules a video read function, an audioread function, and a subtitle read function. The video read function hasa video read pointer. The video read function has a register that storesinformation au_information( ) as access unit information. The audio readfunction has an audio read pointer. The subtitle read function has asubtitle read pointer and a subtitle read function flag. The subtitleread function flag controls enabling/disabling of the subtitle readfunction according to its value. When for example “1” is written to thesubtitle read function flag, the subtitle read function is enabled. Whenfor example “0” is written to the subtitle read function flag, thesubtitle read function is disabled.

The video read function, the audio read function, and the subtitle readfunction, which are internal modules of the buffer control module 215,have demultiplexer functions that demultiplex a multiplexed clip AVstream, of which a video stream, an audio stream, and a subtitle streamhave been multiplexed, and obtain the video steam, the audio stream, andthe subtitle stream. According to this embodiment of the presentinvention, a clip AV stream is formed of a plurality of elementarystreams that are time-division multiplexed according to the MPEG2 systemprogram stream format. Thus, the video read function, the audio readfunction, and the subtitle read function have a demultiplexer functionfor MPEG2 system program streams.

Consequently, the video read function reads the value of field stream_id(see FIG. 25) placed at a predetermined position of the video stream andholds the value. Likewise, the audio read function and the subtitle readfunction read the values of field stream_id and field private_stream_id(see FIG. 25) and hold the values. The values of field stream_id andfield private_stream_id are used to analyze the supplied bit stream.

The video decoder control module 216 causes the video read function ofthe buffer control module 215 to read one video access unit of the videostream from the memory 113 and supply the video access unit to the videodecoder 116. The video decoder control module 216 controls the videodecoder 116 to decode the video stream supplied to the video decoder 116in the access unit and generate video data. The video data are suppliedto the graphics process module 219.

Likewise, the audio decoder control module 217 causes the audio readfunction of the buffer control module 215 to read one audio access unitof the audio stream from the memory 113 and supply the audio stream unitto the audio decoder 117. According to this embodiment of the presentinvention, the access unit (audio frame) that composes an audio streamhas a predetermined fixed length. The audio decoder control module 217controls the audio decoder 117 to decode the audio stream supplied tothe audio decoder 117 in the access unit and generate audio data. Theaudio data are supplied to an audio output module 242.

The subtitle decoder control module 218 causes the subtitle readfunction of the buffer control module 215 to read one subtitle accessunit of the subtitle stream from the memory 113 and supply the subtitleaccess unit to the subtitle decoder control module 218. According tothis embodiment of the present invention, the subtitle access unit thatcomposes the subtitle stream contains length information at thebeginning. The subtitle decoder control module 218 has a subtitle decodefunction that can decode the supplied subtitle stream and generatesubtitle image data. The subtitle image data are supplied to thegraphics process module 219.

As described above, the video data decoded by the video decoder 116under the control of the video decoder control module 216 and thesubtitle image data decoded by the subtitle decoder control module 218are supplied to the graphics process module 219. The graphics processmodule 219 adds the subtitle image data to the supplied video data in apredetermined manner and generates a video signal that is output. Thegraphics process module 219 generates the menu image and the messageimage according to commands received from the script control module 211and the player control module 212 and overlays them with the outputvideo signal.

For example, the graphics process module 219 performs an enlargementprocess and a reduction process for the supplied subtitle image data andadds the processed image data to the video data in a predeterminedmanner according to a command received from the script control module211.

In addition, the graphics process module 219 converts the aspect ratioof the output signal according to the aspect ratio of the predeterminedoutput video device and the output aspect ratio designated in thecontent reproduced from the disc 101. When the aspect ratio of theoutput video device is 16:9 and the output aspect ratio is 16:9, thegraphics process module 219 directly outputs the video data. When theaspect ratio of the output video device is 16:9 and the output aspectratio is 4:3, the graphics process module 219 performs a squeezing(reduction) process that matches the height of the image with the heightof the screen of the output video device, inserts black portions intoleft and right sides of the image, and outputs the resultant image. Whenthe aspect ratio of the output video device is 4:3 and the output aspectratio is 4:3, the graphics process module 219 directly outputs the videodata. When the aspect ratio of the output video device is 4:3 and theoutput aspect ratio is 16:9, the graphics process module 219 performs asqueezing process that matches the width of the image with the width ofthe screen of the output video device, inserts black portions into theupper and lower areas of the image, and outputs the resultant image.

The graphics process module 219 also performs a process that capturesthe video signal that is being processed according to a request from theplayer control module 212 and supplies the requested video signalthereto.

A video output module 241 exclusively uses a part of the memory 113 as afirst-in first-out (FIFO) buffer. The video output module 241temporarily stores video data processed by the graphics process module219 in the buffer and reads the video data therefrom at predeterminedtiming. The video data that are read from the buffer are output from thevideo output interface 118.

The audio output module 242 exclusively uses a part of the memory 113 asa FIFO buffer. The audio output module 242 stores audio data that areoutput from the audio output interface 119 to the buffer and reads theaudio data therefrom at predetermined timing. The audio data that areread from the buffer are output from the audio output interface 119.

When the audio mode of the content is dual monaural (for example,bilingual), the audio output module 242 outputs the audio data accordingto a predetermined audio output mode. When the audio output mode is“main audio,” the audio output module 242 copies audio data of the leftchannel in for example the memory 113 and outputs audio data of the leftchannel and audio data of the memory 113. Thus, the audio output module242 outputs audio data of only the left channel. When the audio outputmode is “sub audio,” the audio output module 242 copies audio data ofthe right channel in for example the memory 113 and outputs audio dataof the right channel and audio data of the memory 113. Thus, the audiooutput module 242 outputs audio data of only the right channel. When theaudio output mode is “main and sub audio” or the content is stereo, theaudio output module 242 directly outputs the audio data.

The user can interactively sets the audio output mode on for example themenu screen that the video content reproduction section 210 generates.

A nonvolatile memory control module 250 writes data to an area in whichdata are not erased after the operation of the video contentreproduction section 210 is completed (this area is referred to as anonvolatile area) and reads data therefrom according to a commandreceived from the player control module 212. The nonvolatile memorycontrol module 250 has a function that stores a plurality of sets ofdata Saved_Player_Status and data Saved_Player_Data with a key of atitle identification ID (Title_ID). The nonvolatile memory controlmodule 250 stores Backup_Player_Status that the player control module212 has as data Saved_Player_Status data. Data Backup_Player_Statuscorresponds to data of for example the player state 323B that existsimmediately before the operation of the player control module 212 iscompleted. Data Saved_Player_Status corresponds to the resumeinformation 324. In addition, the nonvolatile memory control module 250stores data User_Data that the player control module 212 has as dataSaved_User_Data. Data User_Data are predetermined data that the usersets to the player control module 212.

The nonvolatile memory control module 250 correlatively stores a set ofdata Saved_Player_Status and data Saved_User_Data with the title ID ofthe disc 101 in a predetermined area of the flash memory of the discreproduction apparatus 100. The storage medium in which the nonvolatilememory control module 250 stores data is not limited to a flash memory,but a hard disk or the like.

8. State Change Model of Movie Player

8-1. Definition of States of Movie Player

Next, a state change model of the movie player 300 according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.According this embodiment of the present invention, only the internalstates of the movie player 300 are defined. In other words, according tothis embodiment of the present invention, the states of the movie player300 are defined on the basis of the operations and functions thereof.

More specifically, with respect to the operations of the movie player300, from a view point of the reproduction of a play list, two states ofwhich the movie player 300 is in the play state or the stop state aredefined. In addition, with respect to the functions of the movie player300, two states of whether the movie player 300 accepts control commandsfrom the native implementation platform 301 are defined.

FIG. 31 conceptually shows the definitions of the states of the movieplayer 300 according to this embodiment of the present invention. First,with respect to the operations of the movie player 300, the statesthereof will be described. With reference to FIG. 3, from a view pointof the reproduction of a play list, the movie player 300 is in the playstate or the stop state. In the play state, the movie player 300 hasselected a play list and is reproducing the selected play list. In thestop state, the movie player 300 is not reproducing a play list. In thestop state, the movie player 300 has not selected a play list. In otherwords, it can be said that the state that the playback module 321 of themovie player 300 is decoding a clip AV stream is the play state and thestate that the playback module 321 is not decoding a clip AV stream isthe stop state.

The play state is sub-divided into several states. In other words, theplay state is sub-divided into normal reproduction of forward normalspeed, variable speed reproductions other than normal speed in forwarddirection and reverse direction, and pause. Step forward and stepreverse reproductions are accomplished by alternately performing thenormal reproduction and pause. The state that the movie player 300 isreproducing a play list has the same meaning as the movie player 300 isin the play state.

Next, with respect to the functions of the movie player 300, theirstates will be described. With respect to the functions of the movieplayer 300, it has a mode in which the movie player 300 accepts thecontrol command 311 from the native implementation platform 301 (thismode is referred to as the normal mode) and a mode in which the movieplayer 300 ignores the control command 311 (this mode is referred to asthe menu mode). The two operation modes of the movie player 300 aredefined as states thereof.

In the normal mode, the operation of the movie player 300 can becontrolled by the user's input 310 not through a script program in thescript layer 302.

On the other hand, in the menu mode, the movie player 300 does notaccept the control command 311. The movie player 300 accepts only themethod 313 from the script layer 302. Thus, the operation of the movieplayer 300 can be controlled by a script program in the script layer302. For example, the user's input 310 is supplied as the event 314 fromthe native implementation platform 301 to the script layer 302. Thescript program in the script layer 302 controls the operation of themovie player 300 with the method 313 corresponding to the key event 314.

In other words, with the menu mode, the content creator side can controlthe operations of the movie player 300. In addition, with the menu mode,various controls can be accomplished using small kinds of keys.

Thus, with respect to the operations, the movie player 300 has twostates, which are the play state and the stop state. In addition, withrespect to the functions, the movie player 300 has two modes, which arethe normal mode and the menu mode. Thus, in the movie player 300, fourstates as combinations of the two operational states and two functionalstates are defined. In other words, after the movie player 300 isgenerated until it is eliminated, the movie player 300 is in one ofthese four states. The generation and elimination of the movie player300 will be described later.

When the method 313 that causes the movie player 300 to change theexisting state to another state is issued, in the model, the movieplayer 300 quickly changes the existing state to another state accordingto the method 313. In a real device, time after the method 313 is issuedto the movie player 300 until the movie player 300 has changed theexisting state to another state according to the method 313 depends onthe implementation of the device.

When the method 313 that causes the movie player 300 that is in aparticular state to change the existing state to the same state, thestate of the movie player 300 does not change. For example, when themovie player 300 is in the normal mode and in the stop state, even ifthe method 313 that causes the movie player 300 to change the existingmode and state to the normal mode and the stop state, the existing modeand state of the movie player 300 do not change.

The pause state is included in the play state. To cause the movie player300 to change the stop state to the pause state, method play( ) with anargument of value pauseMode that designates pause is used.

Next, four states as combinations of the two states and two operationmodes of the movie player 300 and state changes among the four stateswill be described. In the following description, the normal mode and themenu mode of the functional modes of the movie player 300 are referredto as “normal” and “menu,” respectively. On the other hand, the playstate and the stop state of the operation states of the movie player 300are referred to as “play” and “stop,” respectively. The combinations ofthe modes and states of the movie player 300 are conveniently denoted bystate (mode, state). In the following description, changes of states andmodes of the movie player 300 are referred to as state changes.

As is clear from FIG. 31, the movie player 300 has a total of 16 statechanges including state changes from the existing state to the samestate, namely 4×4=16 state changes. These state changes are performed bythe method 313 that is supplied from the script layer 302 to the movieplayer 300. In other words, the state changes of the movie player 300are performed outside the movie player 300. In other words, the statechanges are not automatically performed in the movie player 300 withoutmethods supplied from the script layer 302. In addition, state changesare not preformed in the movie player 300 with control commands suppliedfrom the native implementation platform 301.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, sincecombinations of arguments of the method 313 are restricted, it isimpossible to perform all 16 state changes that are possible in themovie player 300 with the method.

Next, four states, which are State{Menu, Stop}, State{Normal, Stop},State{Menu, Play}, and State{Normal, Play}, which are possible in themovie player 300, will be described one after the other.

(1) State{Menu, Stop}

The movie player 300 is not reproducing a play list (in the stop state)and is not accepting the control command 311 from the nativeimplementation platform 301. This state is used for a menu screen or thelike on which a moving picture is not reproduced in the background.

To allow a script program to securely control the movie player 300 thathas been just generated, it is effective for the movie player 300 not toaccept the control command 311 from the native implementation platform301. Thus, immediately after the movie player 300 is generated, it isplaced in State{Menu, Stop}.

(2) State{Normal, Stop}

The movie player 300 is not reproducing a play list (in the stop state),and is accepting the control command 311 from the native implementationplatform 301. This state is used when the movie player 300 is notreproducing for example a moving picture. Since the movie player 300accepts the control command 311 in this state, it is preferred not touse this state immediately after the movie player 300 is generated.

(3) State{Menu, Play}

The movie player 300 is reproducing a play list (in the play state) andis not accepting the control command 311 from the native implementationplatform 301. This state is used for a menu screen or the like on whichthe movie player 300 is reproducing a moving picture in the background.

(4) State{Normal, Play}

The movie player 300 is reproducing a play list (in the play state) andis accepting the control command 311 from the native implementationplatform 301. This state is used while the movie player 300 isreproducing a main part of a video content.

Next, a model of which the movie player 300 is generated will bedescribed in brief. For example, when the power of the disc reproductionapparatus 100 is turned on and the operation system 201 gets started bythe CPU 112, necessary processes such as initial settings for individualsections are performed. In addition, the video content reproductionsection 210 is called from the ROM. The video content reproductionsection 210 is executed by the CPU 112. As a result, the movie player300 is generated. When the power of the disc reproduction apparatus 100is turned off, the movie player 300 is eliminated.

The movie player 300 is assumed to be an implicit object. Thus, it isnot necessary for a script program to explicitly generate the movieplayer 300.

As described above, immediately after the movie player 300 is generated,it is placed in the menu mode and the stop state (State{Menu, Stop}).Immediately after the movie player 300 is generated, the followingproperties that the movie player 300 has become indefinite.

Property audioFlag

Property audioNumber

Property chapterNumber

Property playListNumber

Property playSpeed

Property subtitleFlag

Property subtitleNumber

Property videoNumber

When the movie player 300 is initialized, the UMD video player that hasa “resume reproduction function” that resumes the reproduction to theprevious stop position can set values stored in the nonvolatile memory,instead of default values of the properties. For example, the resumeinformation 324 can be used.

8-2. Methods that Cause Movie Player to Change States

Next, the method 313 that causes the movie player 300 to change theexisting state to another state will be described. FIG. 32 shows thecombinations of the four states of the movie player 300 with respect tothe existing State{Mode, State} and State{Mode, State} changed by themethod 313. As is clear from FIG. 32, as the method 313 that causes themovie player 300 to change the existing state to another state, thereare method Stop( ), method play( ), and method resume( ). The operationof the movie player 300 caused by method resume( ) depends on whetherthe resume information 324 is present.

Next, method stop( ) will be described. Method stop( ) causes the movieplayer 300 to change the existing state to the stop state regardless ofthe existing mode. Method stop( ) has an argument for a mode. Methodstop( ) with an argument allows the movie player 300 to change theexisting state and mode to the stop state and the mode designated by theargument. As will be described later, when method stop( ) is executedwith a particular condition satisfied, the player state 323B is backupup and held as the resume information 324.

Next, method play( ) will be described. Method play( ) causes the movieplayer 300 to change the existing state to the play state. Method play() can have an argument for a mode. Method play( ) allows the movieplayer 300 to change the existing state and mode to the play state andthe state designated by the argument. As will be described later, whenmethod play( ) is executed with a particular condition satisfied, theplayer state 323B is backed up and held as the resume information 324.

Next, method resume( ) will be described. Method resume( ) is a methodthat restores the resume information 324 to the player state 323B andresumes the reproduction of the movie player 300. In other words, methodresume( ) causes the movie player 300 to resume the reproduction fromthe position represented with the resume information 324. When methodresume( ) is executed without the resume information 324, the movieplayer 300 does not change.

The conditions of which method resume( ) causes the movie player 300 torestore the resume information 324 are as follows. When method resume( )is executed, if the resume information 324 is present and the existingstate is not State{Normal, Play}, the movie player 300 restores theresume information 324. In other words, when method resume( ) isexecuted, if the resume information 324 is present and the existingstate is one of State{Menu, Stop}, State{Normal, Stop}, and State{Menu,Play}, method resume( ) causes the movie player 300 to change theexisting state to State{Normal, Play} and restore the resume information324.

Method play( ) has a plurality of arguments. For simplicity, it isassumed that method play( ) has three types of arguments that areargument pauseMode, argument menuMode, and argument playListNumber.Specifically, more arguments are defined for method play( ).

Argument pauseMode designates the reproduction mode in the play state.Argument pauseMode has value “x1,” value “pause,” or value “−1.” Value“x1” designates the normal forward reproduction Value “pause” designatesthe pause. Value “−1” designates the retention of the existingreproduction speed. Thus, argument pauseMode designates the details ofthe play state of the movie player 300 after the execution of methodplay( ). When value “pause” is designated, a picture designated by anargument is displayed and the movie player 300 is paused. In this case,if a picture is not designated by an argument, a picture designatedaccording to a predetermined selection rule is displayed and the movieplayer 300 is paused.

Argument menuMode designates the mode of the movie player 300 (thenormal mode or the menu mode) and has one of value “Normal,” value“Menu,” and value “−1.” Value “Normal” designates the normal mode. Value“Menu” designates the menu mode. Value “−1” designates the retention ofthe existing mode.

Argument playListNumber designates the number of a play list to bereproduced. Argument playListNumber can be omitted. In this case, thecurrently selected play list is not changed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 33A to FIG. 33E, examples of the statechanges of the movie player 300 upon the execution of method play( )will be described. In FIG. 33A to FIG. 33E, the left side represents aexisting state 340A of the movie player 300, whereas the right siderepresents a changed state 340B after the script program issues themethod 313 to cause the movie player 300 to change the existing state340A. Indicated below the states 340A and 340B are play list numbers(PL1 and PL2) that have been designated in these states.

FIG. 33A shows an example in the case that method play(x1, Normal, PL2)is issued to the movie player 300 that is in State{Normal, Stop}. Methodplay(x1, Normal, PL2) causes the movie player 300 to reproduce the playlist of play list number “PL2” in the normal mode and at the normalspeed. The movie player 300 has changed State{Normal, Stop} toState{Normal, Play}.

FIG. 33B is an example in the case that method play(x1, Normal, PL2) isissued to the movie player 300 that is in State{Normal, Play} of whichthe movie player 300 is in the pause state during the reproduction ofthe play list of play list number “PL1.” Method play(x1, Normal, PL2)causes the movie player 300 to change the existing state to a state ofwhich the movie player 300 starts reproducing the play list of play listnumber “PL2” in the normal mode and at the normal speed. In this case,although the reproduction operation of the movie player 300 is changedfrom the pause to the normal forward reproduction, the state is kept inState{Normal, Play} before and after method play(x1, Normal, PL2) isissued. Thus, the movie player 300 has not changed the existing state toanother state.

FIG. 33C is an example in the case that method play(−1, −1, PL2) isissued to the movie player 300 that is in State{Normal, Play} of whichthe movie player 300 is reproducing the play list of play list number“PL1” in the forward direction at the normal speed. Method play(−1, −1,PL2) causes the movie player 300 to change the existing step to a stateof which the movie player 300 reproduces the play list of play listnumber “PL2” in the normal mode at the normal speed. In this case,although the play list that the movie player 300 is reproducing ischanged, the state is kept in State{Normal, Play}. Thus, the movieplayer 300 has not changed the existing state to another state.

FIG. 33D is an example in the case that method play(pause, −1, PL2) isissued to the movie player 300 that is in State{Normal, Play} of whichthe movie player 300 is reproducing the play list of play list number“PL1” in the forward direction at the normal speed. Method play(pause,−1, PL2) causes the movie player 300 to select the play list of playlist number “PL2” and pause at the beginning of the play list of playlist number “PL2” in the normal mode. In this case, although thereproduction operation of the movie player 300 is changed from theforward normal speed reproduction to the pause, the state is kept inState{Normal, Play}. Thus, the movie player 300 has not changed theexisting state to another state.

FIG. 33E is an example in the case that method play(−1, Menu) is issuedto the movie player 300 that is in State{Normal, Play} of which themovie player 300 pauses during the reproduction of the play list of playlist number “PL1”. In method play( ), argument playListNumber isomitted. Method play(−1, Menu) causes the movie player 300 to select theplay list of play list number “PL1” and pause at the beginning of theplay list of play list number “PL1” in the menu mode. The movie player300 has changed State{Normal, Play} to State{Menu, Stop}.

Thus, the movie player 300 receives method play( ) from the scriptprogram the movie player 300 performs various operations. AT this point,depending on a condition, the movie player 300 changes the existingstate to another state. When the content creator describes method play() with different arguments in the script program, various operations ofthe movie player 300 can be accomplished.

Only when the movie player 300 executes method play( ) received from thescript program, the movie player 300 starts reproducing a play list of aselected play list number. When the reproduction of a play list isstarted, the movie player 300 that is in the stop state may startreproducing the play list or the movie player 300 that is reproducingthe play list may stop reproducing it, select a new play list, and startreproducing the new play list.

When the script program issues method play( ) with an argument to themovie player 300, the value of the argument is set to the player state323B. When an argument of method play( ) is omitted, a default value ora predetermined value according to the rule for each parameter is set tothe player state 323B.

It is not desired to allow a play list to be reproduced in the orderthat the content creator does not intend. Thus, the control command 311corresponding to a user's operation is prohibited from causing a playlist to be reproduced with a play list number. This is one of featuresof the operation model of the movie player 300 according to thisembodiment of the present invention.

If an invalid play list and a non-existing time is designated for thevalue of an argument of method play( ), the execution of method play( )will fail. This means that the script program contains an error andviolates the standard. The error handling at this point depends on theimplementation of the movie player 306.

Next, the reproduction of a plurality of play items will be described.Once the movie player 300 starts reproducing a play list, the movieplayer 300 continues to reproduce it until it comes to the end. Thereproduction of a play list from the beginning to the end does not needa user's operation and a control of the script program. As shown in FIG.34, the movie player 300 reproduces play items that compose a play listas designated in play list file “PLAYLIST.DAT” (see FIG. 19). The playitems that compose the play list are successively reproduced withoutcontrol of event handlers.

The operation of the movie player 300 after it reproduces one play itemuntil it reproduces the next play item depends on the implementationthereof, not defined in a format. For example, whether the last pictureof a play item is continuously displayed or a black picture is displayeddepends on the implementation of the movie player 300. However, when anauthoring process of which for example an IN point of a play item is setto a random access point (entry point, see FIG. 28) is performed, thegap time of two play items can be decreased as much as possible.

8-3. Operation of Movie Player During Reproduction of Play List

Next, the operation of the movie player 300 during the reproduction of aplay list will be described. A user's variable speed reproductioncommand for a high speed reproduction such as double-speed reproductionor triple-speed reproduction, low speed reproduction such as ½ speedreproduction, and reveres reproduction is input as the user's input 310to the native implementation platform 301. Corresponding to the user'sinput 310, a control command 311 that depends on the implementation ofthe movie player 300 is supplied from the native implementation platform301 to the movie player 300.

The speeds of the variable speed reproductions depend on theimplementation of the movie player 300. A command having an argument of“faster” or “slower” with which a speed can be designated is suppliedfrom the native implementation platform 301 to the movie player 300. Themovie player 300 converts the command into a real speed. The method thataccomplishes variable speed reproductions depends on the implementationof the movie player 300. The script program can know the speed that themovie player 300 has designated with method getPlayerStatus( ).

In contrast, method play( ) that the script program sends to the movieplayer 300 does not designate a speed with an argument. Method play( )designates only pause (with argument “pause”) and normal speedreproduction (with argument “x1”).

After the movie player 300 reproduces a play list in the forwarddirection at a variable reproduction speed, when the existing play itemcomes to the end, the movie player 300 reproduces the next play item. Atthis point, the movie player 300 reproduces the next play item in thesame direction and at the same reproduction speed to continue thevariable speed reproduction.

FIG. 35 shows examples of operations of the movie player 300 when a playlist that the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to the beginning orend. After the movie player 300 reproduces a play list in the forwarddirection, when the play list comes to the end, the movie player 300displays the last picture and pauses. To clear the last picture, it isnecessary to explicitly cause the movie player 300 to stop with methodstop( ) described in event handler onPlayListEnd.

When the movie player 300 performs a high speed reproduction at a higherspeed than the normal speed, at the end of a play list even if the lastpicture of the play list is not a jump point, the movie player 300displays the last picture of the play list.

After the movie player 300 reproduces a play list in the reversedirection, when the existing play list comes to the beginning, the movieplayer 300 reproduces the preceding play item, namely a chronologicallypreceding play item in the forward direction. The movie player 300reproduces the preceding play item from the end to the beginning in thereverse direction at the same reproduction speed. When the play listthat the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to the beginning in thereverse direction, the movie player 300 cancels the variable speedreproduction and pauses at the beginning of the play list.

In addition, the movie player 300 pauses with the control command 311that causes the movie player 300 to pause. When the pause state of themovie player 300 is cancelled, the reproduction direction and thereproduction speed of the play list depends on the implementation of themovie player 300.

Next, events that occur during the reproduction of a play list will bedescribed. As described with reference to FIG. 13, events that occurduring the reproduction of a play list are event angleChange, eventaudioChange, and event subtitleChange corresponding to user's operationsand event chapter and event mark corresponding to marks embedded in aplay list. Examples of operations upon the occurrence of events aredescribed with reference to FIG. 15.

Next, a process performed at the end of a play list will be described.As described above, the movie player 300 reproduces a play list of playlist number designated with method play( ). Once the movie player 300starts reproducing a play list, the movie player 300 continues toreproduce the play list until it comes to the end without controls ofthe script program and the control command 311. When the play list themovie player 300 reproduces comes to the end, the movie player 300informs the script program of event playListEnd no matter how the playlist comes to the end. In other words, when the play list comes to theend regardless of whether the movie player 300 performs the normalreproduction, the fast forward reproduction, or the jump reproductionfrom another play list, the movie player 300 generates eventplayListEnd.

When the play list that the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to theend and event playListEnd occurs, the movie player 300 pauses and thereproduction time of the play list that the movie player 300 storesmatches the last time of the play list. The last time of the play listis the reproduction end time of the last picture of the play list andmatches the OUT point of the last play item on the reproduction timeaxis.

Event playListEnd can be used to successively reproduce a play list anddisplay a menu at a branch point of a multiple story.

When the script program has event handler onPlayListEnd as a programexecuted upon the occurrence of event playListEnd, the script programexecutes event handler onPlayListEnd. When event handler onPlayListEnddescribes method play( ) that causes the movie player 300 to startreproducing another play list, the movie player 300 starts reproducingthe play list. In such a manner, the movie player 300 continues toreproduce the play list.

Next, with reference to FIG. 36, this operation will be described morespecifically. When the movie player 300 has reproduced a play list ofplay list number “PL1,” event playListEnd occurs. When event playListEndoccurs, event handler onPlayListEnd that the script program has isexecuted. Event handler onPlayListEnd designates the reproduction of aplay list of play list number “PL2.” The movie player 300 receives eventhandler onPlayListEnd and reproduces the play list of play list number“PL2,” which has been designated.

Thus, the reproduction path temporarily changes from the end of the playlist of play list number “PL1” to event handler onPlayListEnd and thento the beginning of the play list of play list number “PL2.”

When a menu is displayed at a branch point of a multiple story, acommand that reproduces a play list that displays a menu screen with abranch point at the end may be described in event handler onPlayListEndcorresponding to event playListEnd.

FIG. 37 shows a flow of a process of the script layer 302 at the end ofa play list and an example of the operation of the movie player 300 indetail. In FIG. 37, step S30 to step S33 represent a process on thescript layer 302 side, whereas step S40 to step S44 represent a processon the movie player 300 side.

After a play list that the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to theend, to reproduce the next play list, the script program needs toexplicitly issue a corresponding command. Since the reproduction orderof play lists is decided by the script program, the movie player 300side is incapable of autonomously deciding a play list to be reproducednext.

When a play list that the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to theend (at step S40), the movie player 300 informs the script layer 302 ofevent playListEnd (at step S41). The movie player 300 continues todisplay the last picture of the play list that came to the end andchanges the existing state to the pause state (at step S42).

When the script layer 302 receives event playListEnd, the script layer302 executes event handler onPlayListEnd (at step S30). The operationthat the movie player 300 performs next depends on the description ofthe script program in event handler onPlayListEnd.

After step S40, even if the movie player 300 that pauses receives amethod or the control command 311 that cancels the pause state or thatcauses the movie player 300 to start reproduction in the forwarddirection, the movie player 300 ignores the method or the controlcommand 311. The methods that cause the movie player 300 to startreproduction in the forward direction are method play( ) and methodplayStep( ) that have an argument that designates the forwardreproduction. The control command 311 that causes the movie player 300to start reproduction in the forward direction includes command uo_play(), command uo_playNexChapter( ), command uo_forwardScan( ), commanduo_playStep( ), command uo_pauseOn( ), and command uo_pauseOff( ). Themovie player 300 ignores these commands when it pauses at the end of aplay list.

When the movie player 300 pauses at the end of a play list, method stop() and method resume( ) are valid. The mode change is valid when themovie player 300 pauses at the end of a play list.

After event playListEnd occurs, the movie player 300 that operates inthe normal mode can accept other than the control command 311 thatcauses the movie player 300 to start reproduction in the forwarddirection. In this case, when the script program executes the method 313for the movie player 300, it operates according to the method 313.

In the example shown in FIG. 37, event handler onPlayListEnd causes thescript layer 302 to execute method stop( ) (at step S31). When thescript layer 302 executes method stop( ), the movie player 300 cancelsthe operation caused by the method 311 and changes the existing state tothe stop state (at step S43). In the stop state, the movie player 300clears the last picture of the play list that the movie player 300 hasreproduced and displays a block screen.

Event handler onPlayListEnd causes the script layer 302 to execute themethod 313 that causes the movie player 300 to reproduce the next playlist (at step S32). For example, in method play( ), value “x1” asargument pauseMode, value “Menu” as argument menuMode, and a play listnumber to be reproduced next as argument playListNumber are designated,respectively. These values cause the movie player 300 to change theexisting mode to the menu mode and to reproduce a play list of play listnumber designated by argument playListNumber at the normal. Thereafter,the script layer 302 completes event handler onPlayListEnd (at stepS33). The movie player 300 side changes the existing mode to anothermode according to method play( ) designated at step S32. In addition,the movie player 300 reproduces the designated play list at thedesignated speed (at step S44).

The content creator needs to author (describe) the next operation thatthe movie player 300 that has reproduced one play list performs in eventhandler onPlayListEnd for improvement of user's operability so thatafter the movie player 300 has reproduced the play list, the movieplayer 300 changes the existing state to the stop state, reproduces thenext play list with method play( ), or displays the menu screen.

8-4. Reproduction Resume Function of Movie Player

Next, state changes and reproduction resume function of the movie player300 will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 38, three types ofmemory areas that the UMD video player has will be described. In the UMDvideo player model, a player state area 501, a resume information area502, and a user data area 503 are defined as three types of essentialmemory areas. These three types of memory areas 501, 502, and 503 areformed in for example the memory 113. Instead, these memory areas 501,502, and 503 may be formed in the RAM, which is a work memory of the CPU112.

The player state area 501 is a memory area that stores information thatrepresents the reproduction state of the movie player 300. In otherwords, the player state area 501 stores the player state 323B shown inFIG. 3. The contents of the player state area 501 can be read from ascript program 500 with method getPlayerStatus( ).

The resume information area 502 is a memory area that temporarily backsup part of information held in the player state area 501. In otherwords, information of part of the player state area 501 is stored as theresume information 324 shown in FIG. 3 in the resume information area502. Part of information of the player state area 501, which is backedup in the resume information area 502, is restored to the player statearea 501 when necessary. The backup and restoration of information areperformed by the native implementation platform 301. Information storedin the resume information area 502 is used for a resume reproductionfunction that starts reproduction from the previous reproduction stopposition.

The script program 500 can read the contents of the resume informationarea 502 with method getResumeInfo( ). The script program 500 can changea parameter with respect to a stream in the resume information 324stored in the resume information area 502 with method changeResumeInfo().

Information stored in the resume information area 502 is saved to anonvolatile memory 510 by the native implementation platform 301 whennecessary. Likewise, information saved from the resume information area502 to the nonvolatile memory 510 is loaded from the nonvolatile memory510 by the native implementation platform 301 and stored in the resumeinformation area 502 when necessary.

The backup of information from the player state area 501 to the resumeinformation area 502 and the restoration of information from the resumeinformation area 502 to the player state area 501 are processes that themovie player 300 automatically performs as it changes the existing stateto a predetermined state with predetermined methods.

The user data area 503 is an area that stores information that dependson a content. The content creator can freely use the user data area 503.The user data area 503 can be freely used for such as the history of areproduction path of a play list of the movie player 300 and correct andincorrect answers corresponding to a content.

The script program 500 can save data to the user data area 503 withmethod setUserData( ). The script program 500 can read the contents ofthe user data area 503 with method getUserData( ). The nativeimplementation platform 301 saves information stored in the user dataarea 503 to the nonvolatile memory 510 when necessary. Likewise, thenative implementation platform 301 loads information from thenonvolatile memory 510 and stores the information to the user data area503 when necessary.

Next, the UMD video player model that accomplishes the reproductionresume function according to an embodiment of the present invention willbe described.

First, the resume operation will be described in brief. The operationthat resumes the reproduction state with information backed up in theresume information area 502 is referred to as the resume operation. Theresume operation is performed with method resume( ).

More specifically, the player state 323B is backed up from the playerstate area 501 in the resume information area 502 and the reproductionstate is resumed with the resume information 324 backed up in the resumeinformation area 502 according to method resume( ). The player state323B is composed of the state of the movie player 300, namely the numberof the play list and the number of the chapter that the movie player 300is currently reproducing, the selected stream number, and so forth.

The operation of the movie player 300 to which method resume( ) isissued depends on whether the resume information 324 is stored in theresume information area 502. When the resume information 324 is storedin the resume information area 502, the resume information 324 isrestored as the player state 323B to the player state area 501. At thispoint, the resume information 324 stored in the resume information area502 is discarded.

When a reproduction stream is changed on a menu called during thereproduction of a content, method changeResumeInfo( ) is used. After theresume information 324 stored in the resume information area 502 ischanged to designated information with method changeResumeInfo( ), whenthe resume operation is performed with method resume( ), the existingreproduction stream can be changed to the designated reproduction streamand the reproduction of the designated reproduction stream can bestarted.

When method resume( ) is executed, the movie player 300 can perform theresume operation. Instead, when the resume information 324 is obtainedwith method getResumeInfo( ) and method play( ) with an argumentdesignated is executed, the resume operation may be accomplished.

Next, the backup of the player state 323B to the resume information area502 will be described with reference to FIG. 39 and FIG. 40. FIG. 39shows a state change of which the player state 323B stored in the playerstate area 501 is backed up to the resume information area 502 in thefour state changes defined in the movie player 300. FIG. 40 showsconditions of which the player state 323B is backed up to the resumeinformation area 502.

When the movie player 300 that is reproducing a play list in the normalmode and the play state (State{Normal, play}) changes the existing stateto the stop state, the player state 323B stored in the player state area501 is backed up to the resume information area 502 and stored as theresume information 324. In the stop state, some values of the playerstate 323B become indefinite.

In addition, when the movie player 300 changes the existing state,State{Normal, play}, to State{Menu, play}, the player state 323B storedin the player state area 501 is also backed up to the resume informationarea 502.

In contrast, when the movie player 300 that is reproducing a play listin the menu mode changes the existing state to another state, the playerstate 323B stored in the player state area 501 is not backed up to theresume information area 502.

In other words, the player state 323B is backed up as the resumeinformation 324 to the resume information area 502.

-   (1) when the existing state of the movie player 300 is State{Normal,    Play} and the movie player 300 directly changes the existing state,    State{Normal, Play}, to State{Normal, Play} with the execution of    method stop( ), or-   (2) when the existing state of the movie player 300 is State{Normal,    Play} and the movie player 300 changes the existing state,    State{Normal, Play} to State{Normal, Stop} or State{Menu, Stop} with    the execution of method stop( ). In this case, the value of argument    resumeInfoClearFlag of method stop( ) is “false.”

It is expected that the player state 323B is backed up to the resumeinformation area 502 so as to store the return position of the main partof a content. For example, when a sequence of operations that reproducethe main part of a content, jump to a moving picture menu, returns tothe main part of the content, and reproduces the main part of thecontent from the reproduction stop position accomplished, it is expectedthat the resume information 324, which is data of the player state 323backed up in the resume information area 502, is used.

Thus, while the main part of a content is being reproduced, namely theexisting state of the movie player 300 is State{Normal, Play}, theresume information 324 stored in the resume information area 502 hasbeen discarded. When the movie player 300 changes the existing state,State{Normal, Play}, to another state, the player state 323B is backedup as the resume information 324 to the resume information area 502.

Thus, to accomplish the resume reproduction, the player state 323B isbacked up to the resume information area 502 and the resume information324 stored in the resume information area 502 is discarded as the movieplayer 300 changes the existing state to another state. When the scriptlayer 302 designates method resume( ), if the resume information 324 isstored in the resume information area 502, the resume information 324 isrestored as the player state 323B to the player state area 501.

The script layer 302 can load the resume information 324 from the resumeinformation area 502 with method getResumeInfo( ). A parameter withrespect to a stream in the resume information 324 stored in the resumeinformation area 502 can be changed with method changeResumeInfo( ). Inaddition, with an argument of method stop( ), the resume information 324stored in the resume information area 502 can be discarded.

Next, with reference to FIG. 41 to FIG. 44, the restoration of theresume information 324 stored in the resume information area 502 to theplayer state area 501 and the discard thereof will be described. Theresume information 324 stored as a return position of the main part of acontent is discarded after the movie player 300 returns to the main partreproduction state, namely State{Normal, Play}. At this point, there aretwo cases. In the first case, the resume information 324 is restored asthe player state 323B to the player state area 501 and then discarded.In the second case, the resume information 324 is discarded, notrestored.

In other words, in this model, when the movie player 300 returns toState{Normal, Play}, the resume information 324 stored in the resumeinformation area 502 is discarded. At this point, when the movie player300 and so forth satisfy predetermined conditions, the resumeinformation 324 stored in the resume information area 502 is restored tothe player state area 501 and then discarded. When the resumeinformation 324 is restored to the player state area 501, thereproduction is started from the position designated by the resumeinformation 324. This operation is the resume reproduction.

FIG. 41 shows a state change of which the resume information 324 isrestored to the player state area 501 and then discarded in the fourstate changes defined in the movie player 300.

When the following three conditions (1) to (3) are satisfied, the resumeinformation 324 is restored and then discarded:

-   (1) when the existing state of the movie player 300 is State{Menu,    Stop}, State{Normal, Stop}, or State{Menu, Play},-   (2) when the resume information 324 is stored in the resume    information area 502, and-   (3) when the movie player 300 changes the existing state to    State{Normal, Play} with the execution of method resume( ).

FIG. 42 is a table of these conditions. When the existing state of themovie player 300 is State{Normal, Play}, since the resume information324 is not stored, the operation in this state is not defined in FIG.42.

When the resume information 324 is stored in the resume information area502, if method resume( ) is executed, the movie player 300 changes theexisting state to State{Normal, Play}. When the resume information 324is not stored in the resume information area 502, if method resume( ) isexecuted, the movie player 300 does not change the existing state toanother state. At this point, the movie player 300 remains inState{Mode, State} that occurred immediately before method resume( ) wasexecuted and the player state 323B is not changed.

In contrast, when the following three conditions (4) to (6) aresatisfied, the resume information 324 is not restored, but discarded:

-   (4) when the existing state of the movie player 300 is State{Menu,    Stop}, State{Normal, Stop}, or State{Menu, Play},-   (5) when the resume information 324 is stored in the resume    information area 502, and-   (6) when the movie player 300 changes the existing state to    State{Normal, Play} with the execution of method play( ).

FIG. 43 is a table of these conditions. When the existing state of themovie player 300 is State{Normal, Play}, since the resume information324 is not stored in the resume information area 502, the operation inthis state is not defined in FIG. 43.

When the resume information 324 is not stored in the resume informationarea 502, if method play( ) is executed, the movie player 300 changesthe existing state to State{Normal, Play}. As a result, the state inwhich the resume information 324 is not stored in the resume informationarea 502 remains unchanged.

The resume information 324 stored in the resume information area 502 canbe discarded by setting an argument of method stop( ). Specifically,according to this embodiment of the present invention, as an argument ofmethod stop( ), argument resumeInfoClearFlag that designates whether todiscard the resume information 324 stored in the resume information area502 is defined. As shown in FIG. 44, when method stop( ) is executed, ifargument resumeInfoClearFlag is designated with value “true,” the resumeinformation 324 is discarded.

When the main part of a movie that the movie player 300 reproduces comesto the end and the reproduction of the movie player 300 is stopped, theend position of the main part of the movie is recorded as the resumeinformation 324. Thereafter, when the user operates the movie player 300to perform the reproduction operation (resume reproduction operation),the movie player 300 jumps to the end of the main part of the movie andpauses. Thus, the operability of the resume reproduction operation inthe movie player 300 becomes bad.

To improve the operability of the resume reproduction operation in themovie player 300, it is necessary to provide a section that discards theresume information 324 that is automatically recorded as acharacteristic of the model. Since only the movie creator knows the endof the main part of a movie, the script program 500 can designate thediscard of the resume information 324 for the movie player 300 withargument resumeInfoClearFlag of method stop( ).

FIG. 45 shows an example of the operation of the UMD video player whenmethod stop( ) is executed with argument resumeInfoClearFlag. In FIG.45, step S50 to step S54 show a process on the script layer 302 side,whereas step S60 to step S64 show a process on the movie player 300side.

When the play list that the movie player 300 is reproducing comes to theend (at step S60), the movie player 300 informs the script layer 302 ofevent playListEnd (at step S61). The movie player 300 continues todisplay the last picture of the play list that came to the end at stepS60 and pauses (at step S62).

When the script layer 302 receives event playListEnd, the script layer302 executes event handler onPlayListEnd (at step S50). At step S51, thescript layer 302 determines whether the play list corresponding to eventplayListEnd is the last of the author scenario. In addition, the scriptlayer 302 can determine whether a particular play list is the last playlist of a scenario according to for example the script program 500.

When the determined result represents that the play list is not the lastplay list, the flow advances to step S53. At step S53, the script layer302 sets argument resumeInfoClearFlag of method stop( ) to value “false”and issues method stop( ) that does not discard the resume information324 to the movie player 300. When the movie player 300 receives methodstop( ), the movie player 300 changes the existing state to the stopstate. In addition, the movie player 300 backs up the player state 323Bto the resume information area 502 (at step S64).

In contrast, when the determined result at step S51 represents that theplay list is the last play list in the scenario, the flow advances tostep S52. At step S52, the script layer 302 sets argumentresumeInfoClearFlag of method stop( ) to value “True” and informs themovie player 300 of method stop( ) that discards the resume information324. When the movie player 300 receives method stop( ), the movie player300 changes the existing state to the stop state. In addition, the movieplayer 300 discards (clears) the resume information 324 stored in theresume information area 502 (at step S63).

After step S52, the script layer 302 executes method end( ) depending onthe description in the script program 500.

8-5. Life Cycles of Individual Data

Next, the life cycles of the player state 323B, the resume information324, and the user data will be described.

FIG. 46 shows an example of the life cycle of the player state 323B.When the movie player 300 is generated, the player state 323B is alsogenerated. When the movie player 300 is eliminated, the player state323B is also eliminated. When the movie player 300 is generated, theplayer state 323B is initialized. When the player state 323B isgenerated, a property that represents the state of the movie player 300represents the stop state. The other properties become indefinite. Thevalue of the player state 323B changes according to the change of thereproduction state of the movie player 300. The value of the playerstate 323B changes when the contents of the resume information area 502are restored. The player state 323B can be loaded with methodgetPlayerStatus( ) issued from the script layer 302.

The storage state of the player state 323B depends on the implementationof the movie player 300. As long as the player state 323B can beobtained with method getPlayerStatus( ) issued from the script layer,the player state 323B can be stored in any format.

FIG. 47 shows an example of the line cycle of the resume information324. When the movie player 300 is generated, a memory area for theresume information 324 is allocated. When the movie player 300 isgenerated, the resume information 324 is initialized. When the resumeinformation 324 is initialized, the contents of the resume information324 are discarded. When the movie player 300 is initialized, the UMDvideo player that accommodates the nonvolatile memory loads the resumeinformation 324 from the nonvolatile memory. At this point, user dataare also loaded.

When the movie player 300 changes the existing state, State{Normal,Play}, to another state, the player state 323B is backed up to theresume information area 502.

Parameters videoNumber, audioNumber, audioFlag, subtitleNumber, andsubtitleFlag with respect to a stream of the resume information 324 canbe changed with method changeResumeInfo( ) issued from the script layer302.

When the movie player 300 starts reproducing a play list in the normalmode, the contents of the resume information 324 are discarded. At thispoint, there are two cases. In the first case, before the contents ofthe resume information 324 are discarded, it is restored to the playerstate 323B. In the second case, before the contents of the resumeinformation 324 are discarded, it is not restored to the player state323B. When method stop( ) is executed with argumentresumeInfoClearFlag=“true,” the contents of the resume information 324are discarded.

When the resume information 324 is stored, it is restored to the playerstate 323B with method resume( ).

With method getResumeInfo( ), the contents of the resume information 324can be read from the script layer 302. When the resume information 324that has been discarded is read, since value “0” is returned as returnvalue playStatus, it can be determined whether the resume information324 is stored.

When the movie player 300 is completed (eliminated), the resumeinformation 324 is also eliminated. When the movie player 300 iscompleted (eliminated), the UMD video player that accommodates thenonvolatile memory saves the resume information 324 to the nonvolatilememory. At this point the UMD video player also saves the user data tothe nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 48 shows an example of the life cycle of user data. When the movieplayer 300 is generated, a memory area for user data is allocated. Whenthe movie player 300 is generated, the user data are initialized. Whenthe user data are initialized, the contents of the user data are cleared(with method getUserData( ), an array having a length of “0” isreturned). When the movie player 300 is initialized, the UMD videoplayer accommodating the nonvolatile memory loads the user data from thenonvolatile memory. At this point, the UMD video player also loads theresume information from the nonvolatile memory.

When method setUserData( ) is executed, user data are saved to the userdata area 503. With method setUserData( ), an integer type array havinga data length of 64 bits (maximum) to the user data area 503. Datastored in the user data area 503 can be read with method getUserData( )issued from the script layer 302. When the user data are not stored, anarray having a length of 0 is returned.

The script layer 302 does not have a method that clears the contents ofthe user data area 503. When the contents of the user data area 503 areoverwritten, the contents can be changed.

When the movie player 300 is completed (eliminated), the user data area503 is also eliminated. When the movie player 300 is completed(eliminated), the UMD video player accommodating the nonvolatile memorysaves the data stored in the user data area 503 to the nonvolatilememory. At this point, the UMD video player also saves the resumeinformation 324 to the nonvolatile memory.

9. Process at End of Content

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.According to this embodiment of the present invention, a script programexplicitly informs the native implementation platform 301 of an end of acontent. When the native implementation platform 301 receives theinformation, the native implementation platform 301 can accomplishvarious functions unique to the player after the end of the content.

The content creator intentionally designates an end of a content. Thus,the position of an “end of a content” that the content creator intendedis described in only a script program that he or she created. In otherwords, the end of a play list is not always an end of a content. As witha multi-story content, one content may contain a plurality of ends.

Now, a content 600 that has a story structure as shown in FIG. 49 isassumed. The content 600 starts at start point 610. The content 600 isreproduced according to route a composed of at least one play list. Whenthe content comes to branch point 611, one of routes b and c is selectedon a predetermined branch menu screen or the like. When route b isselected, one of routes d to f is selected at branch point 612.According to the selected route, the content 600 comes end point 613,614, or 615. When route c is selected at branch point 611, one of routesg and h is selected at branch point 616. According to the selectedroute, the content 600 comes to end point 617 or 618.

The content 600, which has such a structure, can have end points 613,614, 615, 617, and 617. In this case, the content 600 has five “ends ofa content.” Instead, depending on the structure of a branch menu, branchpoints 612 and 613 may be designated as “ends of a content.” Inaddition, an “end of a content” may be designated in the middle of aroute. When the parental function or the like is used, an “end of acontent” may be designated with settings of the player. When theparental function or the like is used, a plurality of “ends of acontent” may be designated in a single story content, which does nothave story branches.

On the other hand, the script program determines the last position of acontent according to the stop position of the movie player 300 and thehistory thereof. Now, method end( ) that allows the script program toinform the controller object 330 of an “end of a content” is describedin the script program so that it executes the method at a position thatthe program creator desires. Thus, the script program can explicitlyinform the native implementation platform 301 of an “end of a content.”

For example, in a script program, method end( ) can be described in anevent handler corresponding to the event 312 received from the movieplayer 300 as a play list is reproduced at the end of the content.

FIG. 50 shows sections that relate to the execution of method end( ) inthe player model shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 50, method end( ) isa method 315 of which the script layer 302 informs the nativeimplementation platform 301 that contains the controller object 330.When the controller object 330 receives method end( ), the controllerobject 330 can start the operation of a player's unique function.

FIG. 51 shows an example of specifications of method end( ). Method end() is a method of the controller object 330 (Controller, end( )) and hasno attribute. When method end( ) is executed, a value of Boolean type isreturned. The return value of method end( ) represents whether the UMDvideo player completes the operation for a content without a player'sunique operation. When the return value of method end( ) is “true,” itrepresents that the UMD video player does not execute a player's uniquefunction after the execution of an event handler. In contrast, when thereturn value of method end( ) is “false,” it represents that the UMDvideo player executes a player's unique function after the execution ofan event handler.

The script program informs the native implementation platform 301 of anend of the content with method end( ). In addition, since the scriptprogram obtains the return value of method end( ) from the nativeimplementation platform 301, the'script program can know whether aplayer's unique function is performed and perform the next operation.

When the return value of method end( ) is “false” and the script programhas determined that a player's unique function is performed, the scriptprogram can suppress the execution of another method so that it does notprevent the operation of the player's unique function. In contrast, whenthe return value of method end( ) is “true” and the script program hasdetermined that a player's unique function is not performed, the scriptprogram can call a menu screen so that user's operability is improved.

Next, a specific example of the operation using method end( ) will bedescribed. First, an example of which a disc repeat function isaccomplished using method end( ) will be described. The disc repeatfunction is a function that automatically starts reproduction of acontent from the beginning after it comes to the end.

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing an example of a process that performsthe disc repeat function using method end( ). Before the execution ofthe flow chart, the content creator describes method end( ) in thescript program to designate his or her desired position as an end of acontent. When the content is reproduced and it comes to the positiondesignated as the end, in the script program, an event handler executedat the end of the content issues method end( ) (at step S70).

Method end( ) is supplied to the native implementation platform 301.When the native implementation platform 301 receives method end( ), thenative implementation platform 301 determines whether the disc repeatfunction has been set to the UMD video player (at step S71). Forexample, the disc repeat function is set to the native implementationplatform 301 and written to the read-only memory 323A (not shown in FIG.7A).

When the determined result represents that the disc repeat function hasbeen set, the flow advances to step S72. At step S72, the nativeimplementation platform 301 issues event autoplay to the script layer302. At this point, since method end( ) has not been complete, eventautoplay is enqueued (at step S72). Since the disc repeat function hasbeen set, the return value of method end( ) at step S70 is “false” (atstep S73).

The script layer 302 executes the script program after method end( ) tothe end of an event handler executed at the end of the content (at stepS74). Events that were enqueued earlier than event autoPlay areexecuted. Thereafter, event handler onAutoPlay corresponding to eventautoplay is executed (at step S75). As described with reference to FIG.12 and FIG. 14, event handler onAutoPlay is an event handlercorresponding to event autoPlay that causes the script program to beautomatically executed when the disc is loaded into the player. Eventhandler onAutoPlay is executed when data of the disc are reproduced fromthe beginning. When event handler onAutoPlay is called, the content isreproduced from the beginning.

On the other hand, when the disc repeat function has not been set atstep S71 and the UMD video player completes the operation without anyspecial operation, the flow advances to step S76. At step S76, methodend( ) returns value “true” as the return value. At this point, thescript program is executed after method end( ) until the end of theevent handler (at step S77). The next operation of the UMD video playerdepends on the script program. When the script program does not describeany code after method end( ), the UMD video player becomes a standbystate, waiting for an event (at step S78). For example, the UMD videoplayer displays a black screen and waits for an event. Instead, the UMDvideo player may display a menu screen depending on the description ofthe script program. At steps S77 and S78, the native implementationplatform 301 does not perform any process.

In the example of which the disc repeat function is accomplished withmethod end( ), if the disc repeat function has not been set to theplayer, the return value of method end( ) is “true.” After an eventhandler that contains method end( ) has been executed, the UMD videoplayer becomes a standby state, waiting for an event.

At this point, if the movie player 300 has reproduced a play list andhas stopped the operation, the movie player 300 may display no data(namely, a black screen). When the script program waits for an event anda user's operation, if the black screen appears, the user may think thatthe player stops the operation. Since no guide appears on the displayscreen, the user will get confused about what to do the next. In otherwords, it can be said that this situation results from lacking ofconsideration for the user.

This situation may take place when the content creator does not providea script program that navigates the user so that the menu screen appearsafter the completion of the reproduction of a content.

To prevent such an operation, which is strange or unhelpful to the user,method end( ) can be used.

Next, an example of which a player's unique function is executed at anend of a content using method end( ), which prevents such an operationfrom taking place, will be described with reference to a flow chartshown in FIG. 53. Before the execution of the flow chart, the contentcreator has described method end( ) in a script program to designate hisor her desired position as an end of a content. When the content hasbeen reproduced and it comes to the end, the script program issuesmethod end( ) in an event handler executed at the end of the content (atstep S80).

Method end( ) is supplied to the native implementation platform 301.When the native implementation platform 301 receives method end( ), thenative implementation platform 301 references for example the read-onlymemory 323A and determines whether the disc repeat function has been setto the UMD video player (at step S81).

When the determined result represents that the disc repeat function hasbeen set, the flow advances to step S82. At step S82, the nativeimplementation platform 301 issues event autoPlay to the script layer302. The script layer 302 enqueues event autoPlay. Thereafter, the flowadvances to step S83.

In contrast, when the determined result at step S81 represents that thedisc repeat function has not been set, the flow advances to step S86. Atstep S86, the native implementation platform 301 determines whetherevent handler onMenu has been registered to the script program. When thecontent creator has described event handler onMenu in the script programand when the script program is initially executed, event handler onMenuis registered to the interpreter that executes the script program. Whenevent handler onMenu has been registered it can be executed. In thiscase, the flow advances to step S87. At step S87, event menucorresponding to event handler onMenu is enqueued. Thereafter, the flowreturns to step S83.

In contrast, when the determined result at step S86 represents thatevent handler onMenu( ) has not been registered, the flow advances tostep S88. When event handler onMenu has not been registered, the discrepeat function has not been set. In addition, there is no event handlerthat causes the UMD video player to display a menu. In this case, aprocess that causes the UMD video player to complete the operation andcauses the native implementation platform 301 to display a menu isperformed. In other words, the flow advances to step S88. At step S88,the native implementation platform 301 enqueues event exit. As describedwith reference to FIG. 12, event exit is an event that causes the UMDvideo player to complete the operation. Thereafter, the flow advances tostep S83.

As described at step S82, step S87, and step S88, in this example, whenmethod end( ) is issued, the native implementation platform 301 enqueuesone of event autoPlay (at step S82), event menu (at step S87), and eventexit (at step S88). With one of these events, the UMD video playerexecutes a player's unique function after the execution of the eventhandler. Thus, only value “false” is returned as the return value ofmethod end( ) (at step S83). Thereafter, the execution of the scriptprogram is resumed.

At step S83, the execution of method( ) is complete. After the returnvalue has been obtained, the script program is executed. When the scriptprogram comes to the end of an event handler that contains method end( )(at step S84), enqueued events are executed in the order (at step S85).

When event autoplay was enqueued at step S82, event handler onAutoPlayis executed at step S85. Event handler onAutoPlay causes the UMD videoplayer to reproduce the content from the beginning.

When event menu was enqueued at step S87, event handler onMenu isexecuted at step S85. In many cases, however, depending on the intentionof the content creator, it is expected that event handler onMenucontains a code that causes the UMD video player to display a menuscreen. Thus, in many cases, the menu screen is displayed.

When event exist was enqueued at step S88, event handler onExit isexecuted at step S85. Event handler onExit causes the UMD video playerto complete the operation. After the UMD video player completes theoperation, control is transferred to for example a player's uniquesystem menu with which the player can be set for its hardware.

As described above, according to this embodiment, method end( ), whichcauses the script layer 302 to inform the native implementation platform301 of an end of a content, is defined. An operation of the player to beperformed at an end of a content can be designated according to forexample a setting of the player of whether the disc repeat function hasbeen set and the state of the content of whether a menu screen isprovided. Thus, an improper situation for example appearance of a blackscreen, which results from lack of the consideration for the user, canbe prevented from taking place. In addition, a user-friendly interfacecan be provided.

When the content creator only describes method end( ) at a portion thathe or she wants to designate as an end of a content, the playerautomatically performs a proper process without need to provide acomplicated program. Thus, a lot of time and effort to create thecontent can be saved.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention are applied to thedisc reproduction apparatus 100 that processes both an audio stream anda video stream. Instead, these embodiments of the present invention maybe applied to the disc reproduction apparatus 100 that reproduce eitheran audio stream or a video stream.

In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, as the recordmedium for content data, a disc-shaped record medium is described.Instead, as the record medium for content data, a semiconductor memorymay be used.

In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the discreproduction apparatus 100 is composed of dedicated hardware. Instead,the structure of the disc reproduction apparatus 100 except for the discdrive may be accomplished by software that runs on a computer device. Inthis case, the software that accomplishes the disc reproductionapparatus 100 may be provided by a record medium such as a CompactDisc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc-ROM(DVD-ROM). In this case, the record medium for software thataccomplishes the disc reproduction apparatus 100 is loaded into the discdrive of the computer device and the software recorded on the recordmedium is installed to the computer device. When the disc drive deviceaccording to the UMD is connected to the computer device, the samestructure as the disc reproduction apparatus 100 according to theforegoing embodiments of the present invention can be accomplished. Thesoftware may be recorded on a record medium for a UMD video content.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alternations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reproduction apparatus that reproduces contentdata recorded on a recording medium, comprising: player means; readmeans for reading data from the recording medium on which the contentdata containing at least one of a video data stream and an audio datastream and a reproduction control program controlling the reproductionof the content data are recorded; input means for accepting an inputfrom a user; output means for outputting the content data that arereproduced; content reproduction means for reproducing the content dataaccording to the reproduction control program; and interface means forinterfacing among the content reproduction means, the reproductioncontrol program, and the player means, the reproduction control programincluding a command, executed at a predetermined execution point of aprocess flow of the reproduction control program, that distinguishes anend of a playlist, from a plurality of ends corresponding to a pluralityof playlists included within the content data, from an end point of thecontent data as an end of the content data that are reproduced, thereproduction control program supplying the command to the interfacemeans upon reproduction of the end of the playlist distinguished as theend of the content data, the interface means executing an automaticdisplay of a menu in accordance with the command, the input meansaccepting user input indicating a selection of another playlist from theplurality of playlists, the selected another playlist included in thedisplayed menu, and content associated with the selected anotherplaylist being reproduced.
 2. The reproduction apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the command is described at a plurality of positions ofthe content data to designate them as a plurality of ends of the contentdata.
 3. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein theinterface means causes the player means to execute a unique function ofthe player means according to the command.
 4. The reproduction apparatusas set forth in claim 3, wherein the unique function is a disc repeatfunction.
 5. A reproduction method of reproducing content data from arecording record medium, comprising: reproducing the content data fromthe recording medium according to a reproduction control program that isread from the recording medium on which the content data containing atleast one of a video data stream and an audio data stream and thereproduction control program controlling the reproduction of the contentdata are recorded; interfacing among the content reproduction step, thereproduction control program, and player means having read means forreading data from the recording medium, input means for accepting aninput from a user, and output means for outputting the content data thatare reproduced; executing a command included in the reproduction controlprogram at a predetermined execution point of a process flow of thereproduction control program that distinguishes an end of a playlist,from a plurality of ends corresponding to a plurality of playlistsincluded within the content data, from an end point of the content dataas an end of the content data that are reproduced, the reproductioncontrol program supplying the command to the interface step uponreproduction of the end of the playlist distinguished as the end of thecontent data; executing an automatic display of a menu in accordancewith the command; receiving user input indicating a selection of anotherplaylist from the plurality of playlists, the selected another playlistincluded in the displayed menu; and reproducing content associated withthe selected another playlist.
 6. A non-transitory computer readablestorage medium having instructions stored therein as a reproductionprogram which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor toexecute a reproduction method of reproducing content data from therecording medium, the reproduction method comprising: reproducing thecontent data from the recording medium according to a reproductioncontrol program that is read from the recording medium on which thecontent data containing at least one of a video data stream and an audiodata stream and the reproduction control program controlling thereproduction of the content data are recorded; interfacing among thecontent reproduction step, the reproduction control program, and playermeans having read means for reading data from the recording medium,input means for accepting an input from a user, and output means foroutputting the content data that are reproduced; executing a commandincluded in the reproduction control program at a predeterminedexecution point of a process flow of the reproduction control programthat distinguishes an end of a playlist, from a plurality of endscorresponding to a plurality of playlists included within the contentdata, from an end point of the content data as an end of the contentdata that are reproduced, the reproduction control program supplying thecommand to the interface step upon reproduction of the end of theplaylist distinguished as the end of the content data executing anautomatic display of a menu in accordance with the command; receivinguser input indicating a selection of another playlist from the pluralityof playlists, the selected another playlist included in the displayedmenu; and reproducing content associated with the selected anotherplaylist.
 7. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium havingstored therein content data containing at least one of a video streamand an audio stream and a reproduction control program controlling thereproduction of the content data, which, when executed by a processor,causes the processor to execute a method comprising: reproducing thereproduction control program and the content data according to thereproduction control program; interfacing with player means having readmeans for reading data from the recording medium, input means foraccepting an input from a user, and output means for outputting thecontent data that are reproduced; receiving, from the reproductioncontrol program, a command, executed at a predetermined execution pointof a process flow of the reproduction control program, thatdistinguishes an end of a playlist, from a plurality of endscorresponding to a plurality of playlists included within the contentdata, from an end point of the content data as an end of the reproducedcontent data; executing an automatic display of a menu in accordancewith the command; receiving user input indicating a selection of anotherplaylist from the plurality of playlists, the selected another playlistincluded in the displayed menu; and reproducing content associated withthe selected another playlist.
 8. The non-transitory computer readablerecording medium according to claim 7, wherein the command is describedat a plurality of positions of the content data to designate them as aplurality of ends of the content data.
 9. A reproduction apparatus thatreproduces content data recorded on a recording medium, the apparatuscomprising: a player section; a read section configured to read datafrom the recording medium on which the content data containing at leastone of a video data stream and an audio data stream and a reproductioncontrol program controlling the reproduction of the content data arerecorded, an input section configured to accept an input from a user; anoutput section configured to output the content data that arereproduced; a content reproduction section configured to reproduce thecontent data according to the reproduction control program; and aninterface section configured to interface among the content reproductionsection, the reproduction control program, and the player section, thereproduction control program including a command, executed at apredetermined execution point of a process flow of the reproductioncontrol program that distinguishes an end of a playlist, from aplurality of ends corresponding to a plurality of playlists includedwithin the content data, from an end point of the content data as an endof the content data that are reproduced, the reproduction controlprogram supplying the command to the interface step upon reproduction ofthe end of the playlist distinguished as the end of the content data,the interface section executing an automatic display of a menu inaccordance with the command, the input section accepting user inputindicating a selection of another playlist from the plurality ofplaylists, the selected another playlist included in the displayed menu,and content associated with the selected another playlist beingreproduced.